This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

mammalian meat allergy (MMA)

Authoring team

Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an unconventional food allergy, characterized by IgE-mediated hypersensitivity responses to the glycan galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) and not to a food-protein

  • also known as alpha-gal allergy, red meat allergy, or mammalian meat allergy (MMA),
  • is characterized by the generation of immune-mediated hypersensitivity responses to the carbohydrate galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal)
    • alpha-gal moieties are common in nature and present in non-primate mammals such as cows, pigs, and sheep
    • are also present in various food products derived from those animals including dairy products, meat, and their innards
    • consumption of those food products may result in symptoms ranging from urticaria to potentially lethal anaphylaxis
    • AGS has many novel features that broaden the paradigm of food allergy, including that reactions are delayed 3-6 hours after exposure and patients have frequently tolerated red meat for many years prior to the development of allergic reactions (2)
    • individuals suffering from AGS may also be exposed to alpha-gal through various pharmaceutical products that contain alpha-gal such as the cancer drug cetuximab
  • development of alpha-gal IgE is associated with tick bites though the possibility of other parasites promoting sensitization to alpha-gal remains (1)
  • in >90% of cases the diagnosis of AGS can be made based on a history of delayed allergic reactions after eating non-primate mammalian meat (e.g., "red meat" such as beef, pork, or lamb) and a positive blood test (>0.1 IU/mL) for IgE to alpha-gal (2)
  • is no cure for AGS
    • mainstay of AGS management is to recommend avoidance of the allergen

Reference:

  • Macdougall JD, Thomas KO, Iweala OI. The Meat of the Matter: Understanding and Managing Alpha-Gal Syndrome. Immunotargets Ther. 2022 Sep 15;11:37-54. doi: 10.2147/ITT.S276872. PMID: 36134173; PMCID: PMC9484563.
  • Commins SP. Diagnosis & management of alpha-gal syndrome: lessons from 2,500 patients. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2020 Jul;16(7):667-677. doi: 10.1080/1744666X.2020.1782745. Epub 2020 Jul 8. PMID: 32571129; PMCID: PMC8344025

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.