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Background Carbohydrate‐specific IgE antibodies present on nonprimate mammalian proteins were incriminated recently in delayed meat anaphylaxis. The aim of this study was to explore whether anaphylaxis to mammalian kidney is also associated with galactose‐α‐1,3‐galactose (αGal)‐specific IgE. Methods Fourteen patients with anaphylaxis to pork or beef kidney underwent prick tests to meat and kidney. Some patients also underwent skin tests to Erbitux® (cetuximab). IgE antibodies to αGal, swine urine proteins, beef and pork meat, serum albumin proteins, cat, and rFel d 1 were measured by ImmunoCAP®. The αGal levels were estimated in meats and kidney by ELISA inhibition assay. Cross‐reactivity between αGal and pork kidney was studied with the ImmunoCAP® inhibition assay. Results Among the 14 patients, 12 presented with anaphylactic shock. Reactions occurred within 2 h from exposure in 67% of patients. Associated risk factors were observed in 10 cases, and alcohol was the main cofactor. Three patients underwent an oral challenge to pork kidney, and anaphylaxis occurred after ingestion of small quantities (1–2 g). Prick tests to kidney were positive in 54% of patients. All tested patients showed positive skin tests to Erbitux®. All patients tested positive for IgE to αGal, with levels ranging from 0.4 to 294 kU/l. IgE binding to αGal was inhibited by raw pork kidney extract (mean, 77%; range, 55–87%), which showed a high amount of αGal determinants. Conclusions Pork or beef kidney anaphylaxis is related to αGal IgE. Its peculiar severity could be due to an elevated content of αGal epitopes in kidney.

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The mean cost of anaphylaxis was 1895-5610 euros in nonfatal patients. The prevalence was under-estimated because of many biases, leading to under-estimation of the national cost. Further studies would be necessary to evaluate the value of preventive strategies.