What is alpha-gal syndrome?
AP News • • health
Key Points:
- Alpha-gal syndrome is a life-threatening allergy to mammalian meat triggered by tick bites, particularly from the lone star tick, causing symptoms like hives, diarrhea, and itchiness after consuming meat or dairy.
- The allergy occurs when tick saliva introduces alpha-gal sugar into the bloodstream, prompting the immune system to produce antibodies that cause allergic reactions hours after eating mammalian products.
- Cases are rising due to increased awareness and the expanding range of the lone star tick, now found in new regions of the U.S., with an estimated 450,000 Americans affected.
- Diagnosis involves blood tests for alpha-gal antibodies combined with symptom evaluation, but false positives can occur; treatment traditionally involves avoiding mammalian meats and carrying epinephrine, with a newly FDA-approved drug, Xolair, helping reduce severe reactions.
- The allergy may fade over several years in some patients, but avoiding further tick bites is crucial, and future research is exploring additional biologic drugs to interfere with the allergic response.