eISSN: 1644-4124
ISSN: 1426-3912
Central European Journal of Immunology
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3/2021
vol. 46
 
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abstract:
Case report

Alpha-gal syndrome: the first report in Poland

Mirella Brzozowska
1
,
Natalia Mokrzycka
2
,
Grzegorz Porębski
3

  1. Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases, Clinical Hospital of the Pomeranian Medical University, Police, Poland
  2. Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
  3. Department of Clinical and Environmental Allergology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
Cent Eur J Immunol 2021; 46 (3): 398-400
Online publish date: 2021/08/28
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Alpha-gal syndrome is an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-dependent allergy to galactose--1,3-galactose, resulting in a delayed anaphylactic reaction to red meat. The syndrome is causally linked to bites from ticks and associated with cross-reactivity to some drugs, e.g. cetuximab. Although cases of alpha-gal allergy have already been reported in a few European countries, to our best knowledge, no cases have been reported so far in Central-Eastern Europe. In the current report, we describe a case of alpha-gal syndrome diagnosed in Poland, to highlight the fact that it may occur in new geographic areas. Within three months, the described patient underwent five anaphylactic reactions with typical clinical manifestations. They developed a few hours after ingestion of red meat (pork, beef or mutton) and were preceded by tick bites. The level of specific IgE antibodies to alpha-gal reached 72.6 kAU/l, whereas the levels of specific IgE antibodies to other food allergens were within the reference range. As the onset of symptoms in this syndrome is usually delayed, numerous cases may be identified as idiopathic anaphylaxis, while early diagnosis is indispensable to avoid potentially life-threatening complications.
keywords:

allergy, anaphylaxis, alpha-gal syndrome

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