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- Document type:
- Journal Article
- Author(s):
- Benders-Guedj, Marie; Köberle, Martin; Hofmann, Heidelore; Biedermann, Tilo; Darsow, Ulf
- Title:
- High-risk groups for alpha-gal sensitization.
- Abstract:
- BACKGROUND: Tick bite-induced IgE-mediated reactions to the oligosaccharide galactose α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) are increasingly recognized. This study investigated alpha-gal sensitization in three groups with different tick bite exposure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Specific IgE antibodies to alpha-gal and total IgE were investigated in 485 patients with Lyme borreliosis with different disease manifestations and compared to a control group of 200 randomly selected patients without increased exposure to tick bites. A group of 232 hunters and forest workers served as a model for multiple tick bites. RESULTS: Specific IgE (sIgE) antibodies to alpha-gal (> 0.1 kU/L) were found in 12.6% of all borreliosis samples compared to the control group with 9% (relative risk 1.4; 95% CI 0.85 - 2.3; not significant (n.s.). The highest prevalence of sIgE to alpha-gal was observed in hunters and forest service employees (22.8%, relative risk 2.5; 95% CI 1.5 - 4.2; p < 0.001). Higher age and elevated total IgE were also associated with alpha-gal sensitization. CONCLUSION: IgE sensitization to alpha-gal tends to be more frequent in tick-exposed patients with borreliosis than in controls (n.s.). Moreover, hunters and forest workers show an even higher rate of elevated IgE to alpha-gal. Thus, frequent tick contact may result in alpha-gal sensitization. In the area of Munich, the prevalence of alpha-gal sensitization appears lower than in the state of Baden-Württemberg and lower than in the USA, which may be due to the difference in tick species or the frequency of tick exposure. This study could show that alpha-gal sensitization and presumably alpha-gal syndrome does not seem to be a modern problem but existed already more than 30 years ago.
- Journal title abbreviation:
- Allergol Select
- Year:
- 2023
- Journal volume:
- 7
- Pages contribution:
- 140-148
- Fulltext / DOI:
- doi:10.5414/ALX02424E
- Pubmed ID:
- http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37705677
- TUM Institution:
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie (Prof. Biedermann)
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