Anaphylaxis after zoster vaccine: Implicating alpha-gal allergy as a possible mechanism

• Published in: Journal of allergy and clinical immunology Vol. 139; no. 5; pp. 1710 - 1713.e2
• Main Authors: Stone, Cosby A., Hemler, Jonathan A., Commins, Scott P., Schuyler, Alexander J., Phillips, Elizabeth J., Peebles, R. Stokes, Fahrenholz, John M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.05.2017; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Allergens - immunology; Allergies; Allergy and Immunology; Anaphylaxis; Anaphylaxis - diagnosis; Anaphylaxis - etiology; Angioedema; Antibodies; Antigens; Beef; Chicken pox; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions - diagnosis; Emergency medical care; Emergency Medical Services; Epinephrine; Epinephrine - administration & dosage; Epitopes; Excipients - adverse effects; Female; Galactose; Galactose - analogs & derivatives; Galactose - immunology; Gelatin; Gelatin - immunology; Herpes zoster; Herpes Zoster Vaccine - adverse effects; Herpes Zoster Vaccine - immunology; Humans; Hypersensitivity - complications; Hypersensitivity - diagnosis; Immunity, Heterologous; Immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Mammals; Meat; Middle Aged; Patients; Pharmacy; Side effects; Thyroglobulin; Urticaria; Vaccines; Varicella; Vital signs

Gelatin and other nonprimate mammal-derived products are common excipient ingredients in several vaccines,2,3 and it has been postulated that patients with alpha-gal allergy might react to these vaccines.4 A patient in our clinic with a documented history of red meat allergy since November 2008 requ...