Mastocytosis Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

What is mastocytosis?

Mastocytosis is a rare blood disorder. The main two types of cutaneous mastocytosis and systemic mastocytosis.

1. In cutaneous mastocytosis, the blood disease is only found in the skin. People with cutaneous mastocytosis have brown spots on their skin, similar to freckles. The spots are thick and itch when they are hot or if rubbed over it. The medical name for these spots is urticaria pigmentosa.
2. In systemic mastocytosis is the blood disease in the bone marrow. And in many people also in other organs, such as the skin, the intestine, the liver, the spleen, the bone or lymph nodes. Systemic mastocytosis is very rarely malignant. Then called the aggressive mastocytosis.

Mastocytosis is a very rare disease, every year ten to twenty Dutch mastocytosis.

Children with mastocytosis often have only the skin. In most children the mastocytosis resolves itself before puberty.
In adults, the mastocytosis is often also in the bone marrow. They have much more complaints. Mastocytosis can not be cured, but doctors can do something against the phenomena.

What are the signs and symptoms of mastocytosis?

Mastocytosis can sit at various places in the body. Therefore, the symptoms of each individual are different. Possible symptoms are:

1. brown red spots on the skin. The spots are thick and itch when rubbed.
2. allergic reactions to certain drugs or insect stabbing.
3. hot flashes, where the skin may be red and you can get palpitations.
4. anemia and inflammation, by mast cells in the bone marrow.
5. abdominal pain with diarrhea, by mast cells in the bowel.
6. pain in bones and muscles.
7. osteoporosis.

Many people with mastocytosis suffer from fatigue. Very rare:

• attacks are not tasty, sometimes with very low blood pressure or shock.

Causes of mastocytosis

With mastocytosis is something wrong with the mast cells in the blood. Mast cells help the immune system to substances that do not belong in the body. When an insect sting accents include the substances are that the skin become red and thick. For example, the poison can not spread in the body.

In people with mastocytosis mast cells can cause two types of problems:

1. The mast cells naturally secrete mediators without needed. Then develops an allergic reaction.
2. The mast cells multiply itself without that it is needed. In the bone marrow, they displace the normal bone marrow cells. The liver and spleen can be thick by too many mast cells.

Mastocytosis is not contagious nor hereditary.

Mastocytosis diagnosis

The doctor can determine whether you have to set mastocytosis by asking you about your symptoms. They also look at your skin. She lets examine your urine and your blood.

To find out whether the mastocytosis is only in your skin, or even in your bone marrow, you get a bone marrow biopsy. With a special hollow needle is then what bone marrow sucked. This is done under local anesthesia.

It is clear that the mastocytosis also is in your bone marrow, you will have the following tests:

1. The doctor makes an ultrasound or CT scan of your abdomen to see if your liver or spleen are enlarged.
2. You get a bone density test to see whether you have osteoporosis.

Treatment for mastocytosis

People with skin to be mastocytosis often do not need treatment. You have lots of itching, you can get antihistamines. You will remain under medical supervision.
For systemic mastocytosis, there is no curative treatment. However, there are treatments that alleviate the symptoms. The treatment is depending on the symptoms. Treatments that are used are:

1. antihistamines. These help prevent itching, flushing and other skin reactions.
2. medicines for heartburn.
3. medicine for diarrhea and abdominal pain.
4. a treatment for osteoporosis.

Malignant mastocytosis chemotherapy is needed.