Impact of Newly Emerging Alpha-Gal Allergies on Cardiac Surgery: A Case Series

Kristen A Sell-Dottin, Michael Sola and Thomas G Caranasos

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA

^*Correspondance to: Thomas G Caranasos 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.1477

Abstract

The influence of alpha-gal allergies on cardiothoracic surgery is largely unknown. Allergic responses to galactose-alpha-1, 3-galactose, or “alpha-gal”, are due to antibodies against non-primate mammalian proteins and are mediated by IgE. This allergy has only recently been discovered and is increasingly prevalent, upwards of 20%-25% of the general population in the southeast United States is sensitized to alpha-gal. Due to the exposure of patients to significant amounts of alpha-gal containing heparin during the course of cardiopulmonary bypass, this allergy may have significant implications for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. We provide a four case series from a single institution detailing successful cardiac surgery in four patients with known alpha gal allergies. These cases demonstrate that pre-treatment with diphenhydramine and steroids may help attenuate serious allergic reactions and allow cardiac surgery to be performed more safely.

Keywords

Cite the article

Sell-Dottin KA, Sola M, Caranasos TG. Impact of Newly Emerging Alpha-Gal Allergies on Cardiac Surgery: A Case Series. Clin Surg. 2017; 2: 1477.