Carbohydrate in meat may cause anaphylaxis

Monday, 15 March 2010 08:44

A joint study conducted in the USA and Australia that was presented at the 2010 AAAAI Annual Meeting (February 26 - March 2, in New Orleans) suggests a carbohydrate in meat called alpha-gal may be the cause of anaphylaxis in patients with recurring reactions.

Sixty patients diagnosed with recurrent, idiopathic anaphylaxis at the University of Virginia, the University of Tennessee and the John James Medical Center in Australia were identified and tested for the presence of IgE to alpha-gal. Twenty-five patients across the three locations showed positive responses to the carbohydrate.

The researchers carried out a broad analysis of other allergens in the 60 samples but did not find any patterns that would have otherwise explained the cause of anaphylaxis in the 25 positive for alpha-gal or the remaining 35 cases.

Source: www.aaaai.org

Further highlights in food allergy research from the 2010 AAAAI Annual Meeting will be reviewed in forthcoming issues of the Allergen Bureau eNews. Subscribe here to receive our next eNews issues by email.