Allergische Soforttypreaktionen und kreuzreaktive Kohlenhydratepitope (CCD)

Many plant allergens are glykoproteins. IgE-reactivity to the respective glykan moiety seldom seems to be of clinical significance. This appears to be different for a carbohydrate expressed on cells of non-primate mammals, prosimians and New World monkeys, the galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal). IgE-antibodies specific for α-Gal (anti-α-Gal-IgE) are associated with severe allergic symptoms and with a delayed-type anaphylaxis. The allergologically relevant carbohydrate determinants, therefore, differ considerably with regard to structure, occurrence, their association with clinical symptoms and the degree of severity.