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What Is Alpha-Gal Syndrome?

Author/s: 
Fatema Mollah, Mark A Zacharek, Mariel R Benjamin

Alpha-gal syndrome is a type of food allergy to mammalian (red) meat products.

Alpha-gal syndrome is associated with tick bites, most commonly from the Lone Star tick in the US, but also from different types of ticks in other areas of the world. During a bite, a tick injects a type of sugar molecule (galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose), also called alpha-gal, which leads to formation of an antibody. Because alpha-gal is present on cells of most mammals, including cows, pigs, lambs, and goats, when affected individuals eat these animal products, an allergic reaction may occur.

Keywords 
allergy and clinical immunology Patient Information diet red meat allergy Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Clinical Approach to Lactose Intolerance

Author/s: 
Micic, D, Rao, VL, Rubin, DT

Lactose intolerance refers to the clinical syndrome in which symptoms of bloating, flatulence, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea arise following the consumption of lactose-containing foods. Lactose malabsorption results from congenital lactase deficiency, secondary lactose intolerance, and, most commonly, from acquired primary lactase deficiency, a highly prevalent condition affecting 65% to 74% of the worldwide population, with wide regional and ethnic variations. Symptoms arising from lactose malabsorption result from fluid shifts into the intestinal lumen driven by an osmotic gradient and subsequent fermentation of lactose by bacteria residing in the gastrointestinal tract. In this article we review the development of clinical lactose intolerance, diagnostic testing, and treatment of individuals presenting with symptoms of lactose intolerance.

Keywords 
lactose intolerance lactase deficiency diagnostic tests
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