Aykut, BerkLim, Hoe KingNgeve, Smith MHoover, AnnaMedina, Cathlyn KScherba, JacobMenken, AshleyOverbey, Douglas MOmer, Tariq MCommins, Scott PNellis, Joseph RTurek, Joseph W2025-07-012025-07-012025-032772-99312772-9931https://hdl.handle.net/10161/32537<h4>Background</h4>Alpha-gal syndrome from tick bites, due to sensitivity to alpha-gal, can cause severe allergies. Heart valve implants contain alpha-gal, yet alpha-gal syndrome screening is not standard before valve replacement. This study examines perioperative outcomes in patients with alpha-gal antibodies.<h4>Methods</h4>This is a single-institution prospective cohort study of patients undergoing bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement between January 2022 and January 2023. Anti-alpha-gal immunoglobulin E levels were measured, with primary outcomes being severe allergic reactions and in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes including intensive care unit and hospital stay.<h4>Results</h4>Of 155 patients, 32.7% (n = 19) of surgical aortic valve replacement and 29.9% (n = 29) of transcatheter aortic valve replacement patients had detectable immunoglobulin E levels without subsequent serious allergic reactions or in-hospital mortality. Postoperative hospital stay and valve function were similar across groups.<h4>Conclusions</h4>In this study, sensitization to alpha-gal was not associated with serious allergic reactions and did not affect immediate aortic valve function after surgical aortic valve replacement or transcatheter aortic valve replacement.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0Journal article