Alpha-Gal Syndrome — immune reactions after tick bites
Official title: The α-gal Syndrome - Investigating Immune Reactions to Tick Bites Leading to Inflammation and Allergic Sensitization
Run by Luxembourg Institute of Health · NCT07177729 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will follow adults recently bitten by ticks to see if their immune systems make antibodies—including IgE against alpha‑Gal—that can cause red‑meat allergy.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Luxembourg Institute of Health Government |
| Drugs / interventions | omalizumab, immunotherapy |
| Locations | 2 sites (Luxembourg and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | February 2027 |
| Study ends | February 2027 |
| Registry record updated | March 30, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07177729 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18 or older who had a tick removed less than 48 hours ago (or still attached) and can provide the tick and blood samples, and who are not immunosuppressed, are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People under 18, those with active infections, immune deficiency or on immunosuppressive therapies (including omalizumab), or with significant cognitive impairment are excluded and unlikely to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Adults who have had a tick bite within 48 hours are invited to give blood and submit the tick for laboratory analysis. Researchers will test the tick for pathogens and the blood for antibodies to tick proteins, tick-borne parasites, and IgE against the alpha‑Gal sugar. Participants will be followed to observe how early peripheral immune responses develop and whether they predict later sensitization to alpha‑Gal. The aim is to distinguish immune patterns that lead to short-lived responses from those that may progress to delayed-onset red‑meat allergy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could identify early immune markers that predict who will develop alpha‑Gal syndrome, enabling earlier diagnosis and targeted prevention.
How similar studies have gone: Previous observational work has linked tick bites to alpha‑Gal sensitization and detected IgE in affected people, but studies that capture the very earliest immune events after a bite are relatively new and less established.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: * Individuals aged ≥ 18 years, Male and Female. * Experience of a tick bite: the tick has been removed less than 48 hours ago, or the tick is still attached to the skin and can be removed on site by the study nurse. * Tick available for analysis. * Informed consent signed. Exclusion criteria: * Individuals \< 18 years of age, Male or Female. * Individuals with an acute viral/bacterial inflammation. * Individuals with an immune deficiency or under immunosuppressive treatments. * Individuals in receipt with immunotherapy with omalizumab. * Individuals with neurological diseases / impaired cognitive disorder.
Where it's running
-
Lctr
Luxembourg, Luxembourg Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier du Luxembourg (CHL)
Strassen, Luxembourg Active not recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Christiane Hilger, Dr — Luxembourg Institute of Health
- Study coordinator: Christiane Hilger, Dr
- Email: christiane.hilger@lih.lu
- Phone: +352 26970258
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Using alpha-gal KO pork to see if it reduces reactions in people with Alpha-gal Syndrome
This study tests whether eating pork that lacks the alpha-gal allergen lowers reaction risk for people with Alpha-gal Syndrome, using a crossover design where each participant tries both KO and wild-type pork on separate days.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.