The study found that alpha-gal IgE antibodies resulting from a tick bite were associated with musculoskeletal symptoms, particularly knee pain. This was true even in patients with no evidence of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. The study was conducted in a population with high levels of tick exposure and osteoarthritis. The researchers also found that there was no association between musculoskeletal symptoms and Ehrlichia and spotted fever group Rickettsia antibodies. These findings suggest the need for further research to understand the pathogenesis of tick-borne illnesses and interventions to reduce human-tick interactions. The study was published in JAMA Network Open.
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Patients with greater alpha-gal IgE levels report higher rates of knee pain, stiffness
