Please also see and review “Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)” By Dr. Yellman – Outstanding Help On Diagnosis And Treatment
Posted on January 8, 2023 by Tom Wade MD
In this post, I link to and excerpt from [Mast Cell Activation Syndrome] Mast cell activation disease: a concise practical guide for diagnostic workup and therapeutic options [PubMed Abstract] [Full-Text HTML] [Full-Text PDF]. Gerhard J Molderings,
1 Stefan Brettner,2 Jürgen Homann,3 and Lawrence B Afrin4 J Hematol Oncol. 2011; 4: 10. Published online 2011 Mar 22. doi: 10.1186/1756-8722-4-10
Links to 104 similar articles in PubMed
Links to 44 results cited in PubMed
All that follows is from the above resource.
Abstract
Mast cell activation disease comprises disorders characterized by accumulation of genetically altered mast cells and/or abnormal release of these cells’ mediators, affecting functions in potentially every organ system, often without causing abnormalities in routine laboratory or radiologic testing. In most cases of mast cell activation disease, diagnosis is possible by relatively non-invasive investigation. Effective therapy often consists simply of antihistamines and mast cell membrane-stabilising compounds supplemented with medications targeted at specific symptoms and complications. Mast cell activation disease is now appreciated to likely be considerably prevalent and thus should be considered routinely in the differential diagnosis of patients with chronic multisystem polymorbidity or patients in whom a definitively diagnosed major illness does not well account for the entirety of the patient’s presentation.
No tools yet exist to predict which specific therapeutic regimen will be optimal for the individual MCAD patient. However, especially in non-aggressive disease (comprising the great majority of patients), at least partial improvement is usually attainable with one regimen or another, and thus the practitioner is obligated to persist with therapeutic trials until no options remain. Finally, although clinical trials in MCAD are rare, enrolment in such must be a priority.
Conclusions
MCAD comprises disorders affecting functions in potentially every organ system by abnormal release of mediators from and/or accumulation of genetically altered mast cells. There is evidence that MCAD is a disorder with considerable prevalence and thus should be considered routinely in the differential diagnosis of patients with chronic multisystem polymorbidity of unknown cause. In most cases of MCAD, diagnosis is possible by
relatively non-invasive investigation. Effective therapy often consists simply of antihistamines and mast cell membrane-stabilising compounds supplemented with medications targeted at specific symptoms and complications.
