
Jeffrey Wilson MD, PhD
Jeffrey Wilson, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of medicine in the UVA Division of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology, spoke with The Washington Post about how a meat allergy can cause severe reactions to certain medications.
Lone star tick bites can cause alpha-gal syndrome, also known as a red meat allergy. The drugs most likely to cause severe allergic reactions are those that are administered intravenously says Dr. Wilson. The blood thinner heparin can be particularly problematic. Derived from pig intestines, it is used to prevent and treat blood clots. In a small study co-authored by Wilson, 24 percent of individuals with alpha-gal syndrome who underwent heart bypass surgery experienced a severe allergic reaction to intravenous heparin.
Read the full story at the Washington Post (subscription may be required).
Filed Under: Media Highlights