Alpha-gal syndrome Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis
To diagnose alpha-gal syndrome, a healthcare professional asks about your symptoms and your medical history and does an exam. A blood test can confirm that there are alpha-gal antibodies in your blood and measure the amount. But it's possible to have alpha-gal antibodies without having alpha-gal syndrome.
Treatment
Alpha-gal syndrome treatment involves not eating the foods that cause your reaction. Always check the ingredient labels on store-bought foods. Make sure they don't have red meat or meat-based ingredients.
Ask your healthcare professional for a list of foods to not eat. These include meat extracts used in flavoring. The names of some meat-based ingredients make them easy to miss.
Be aware that some medical products made from animals may have alpha-gal. These might include heart valves from pigs and cows, lab-made proteins called monoclonal antibodies that fight diseases, the blood-thinning medicine heparin and some medicines to treat snake bites. But reactions to these products from people with alpha-gal syndrome are rare.
For a mild allergic reaction, an allergy medicine might help. For a more intense reaction, you may need a shot of epinephrine and emergency care. Many people with allergies carry a device called an epinephrine autoinjector. It's a syringe and needle that gives you a single dose of medicine when you press it against your thigh.
If you've been diagnosed with alpha-gal allergy, your healthcare professional is likely to prescribe an epinephrine autoinjector and teach you how to use it.
Self-care
To keep from having an alpha-gal reaction, don't eat foods that have the following:
- Beef.
- Pork.
- Lamb.
- Organ meats, such as kidneys, livers, intestines and sweetbreads.
- Gelatins and gelatin-coated medicines.
Check soup stock cubes, gravy packages and flavor ingredients in packaged products.
Be extra careful when you dine out. Even a small amount of meat can cause a serious reaction.
Do what you can to lower your risk. If you're worried that you may be allergic to something in a food, don't try it. Also think about bringing your own food to a party if guests are sharing a cooking surface to make food.
Preparing for your appointment
You may start by seeing your main healthcare professional. You may be sent to a specialist in allergies, called an allergist. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your appointment.
What you can do
Take a family member or friend along if you can. Someone who's with you can help you gather information.
Make a list of:
- Your symptoms. What happens after you eat red meat? How long did the reaction take? What type of red meat did you eat and how much?
- Your tick bites. List how many you've had and when you got them. Include how much time you spend outdoors in areas ticks are likely to be.
- All medicines, vitamins or supplements you take, including dosages.
- Questions you have.
Some questions to ask include:
- Are my symptoms likely caused by a red meat allergy?
- What else might be causing my symptoms?
- What tests do I need?
- What's the best treatment?
- Should I see a specialist?
- Are there brochures or other printed material that I can have? What websites do you suggest?
- Do I need to carry an epinephrine autoinjector?
What to expect from your doctor
Your healthcare professional may ask you questions such as:
- Did you take allergy medicines that you can get without a prescription, such as antihistamines? If so, do they help?
- Do you get symptoms when you eat any foods other than meat or meat products?
- How bad are your symptoms?
- What, if anything, seems to make your symptoms better?
- What, if anything, seems to make your symptoms worse?
What you can do in the meantime
If you think you have alpha-gal syndrome, don't eat red meat until your appointment. If you have a serious reaction, get emergency help.
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