Recurring acute urticaria and abdominal pain: Consider a diagnosis of alpha-galactose anaphylaxis.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Food urticaria is common and generally benign, and it may be of viral or idiopathic aetiology. A food origin of the allergy is frequently sought but rarely found. Mammalian meat anaphylaxis, or alpha-galactose (α-gal) anaphylaxis, is a rare and recently discovered entity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Herein, we report a case of alpha-galactose (α-gal) anaphylaxis in a 60-year-old woman presenting four episodes of acute urticaria with signs of anaphylaxis occurring a few hours after meals containing mammalian meat (beef meat, pork meat and offal). The diagnosis was confirmed by a positive gelatine prick-test and the presence of α-gal IgE. DISCUSSION: In the event of acute urticaria associated with systemic symptoms, in particular gastrointestinal signs, allergy to α-galactose should be considered.