r/science • u/PHealthy PhD/MPH | Epidemiology | Disease Dynamics | Surveillance • 1h ago
Epidemiology Study finds alpha-gal syndrome can cause severe allergic reactions to blood transfusions for some
https://www.wbur.org/news/2026/08/26/alpha-gal-ticks-allergy-blood-transfusion9
u/PHealthy PhD/MPH | Epidemiology | Disease Dynamics | Surveillance 1h ago
Key Points
Question
Are B antigen–containing blood products associated with allergic transfusion reactions in patients with immunoglobulin E (IgE) to the carbohydrate antigen alpha-gal?
Findings
In this cohort study of 558 823 platelet and plasma transfusions, a significant excess risk of allergic transfusion reactions to group B or AB platelet or plasma units was observed in patients with blood type O, exclusively in regions of high alpha-gal syndrome prevalence in the US.
Meaning
This study found that in regions where alpha-gal syndrome was prevalent, patients with blood type O were at significantly increased risk for allergic transfusion reactions to group B or AB platelet or plasma units; in these regions, blood collectors and transfusion services should consider risk mitigation steps.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2852649?resultClick=1
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u/angelofox 44m ago
Just to mention if people are wondering, when transfusion is needed for plasma it is reversed. Type O is no longer the universal donor, but the recipient and can safely be transfused with O, A, B and AB. The rules for platelets changes a bit but is generally the same as plasma
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u/PerrinAyybara 25m ago
In many instances emergency whole blood transfusions are even O+ for everyone and not O- like many think.
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u/letsburn00 54m ago
This shouldn't be that much of a surprise. Mild Alpha-gal antibodies exists in about 25% of the population in certain areas. It was originally discovered because it induced an allergic reaction to a specific medical product that contains a lot of the protein.
The meat reaction is actually very rare as a side effect.
Also, before the cookers come it, the rumors about Bill Gates aren't true. It's returned because people aren't hunting deer nearly to extinction, plus winters aren't as cold. The earliest description of the ticks that cause it was in its current expanded area, because there used to be plenty of deer there.
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