Telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans (TMEP): A form of cutaneous mastocytosis with potential systemic involvement.

BACKGROUND: Telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans (TMEP) has not been fully characterized. OBJECTIVE: We sought to estimate the frequency and clinical characteristics of TMEP in a cohort of adult patients with cutaneous mastocytosis, and to assess the presence of systemic involvement. METHODS: We included all consecutive patients evaluated for cutaneous mastocytosis in 2 centers: the Mastocytosis Competence Center of the Midi-Pyrénées from May 2006 to December 2013, and the French Reference Center for Mastocytosis from January 2008 to September 2013. Skin phenotype, histopathology, presence of KIT mutation in the skin, and assessment of systemic involvement according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria were prospectively investigated. RESULTS: Of 243 patients with cutaneous mastocytosis, 34 (14%) were given a diagnosis of TMEP. The diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis was established in 16 patients (47%) with TMEP. Three patients (9%) had aggressive systemic mastocytosis (C-findings according to WHO). In all, 32 patients (94%) exhibited at least 1 mast cell activation-related symptom. LIMITATIONS: Patient recruitment was undertaken at 2 referral centers with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of mastocytosis so that the clinical findings and incidence of systemic involvement may be overestimated in comparison with the overall population of patients with TMEP. CONCLUSION: TMEP accounts for about 14% of patients with cutaneous mastocytosis. The disease manifests as mast cell activation symptoms in almost all patients and can be associated with systemic involvement in about 50% of cases.

Actualización en mastocitosis. Parte 1: fisiopatología, clínica y diagnóstico / Update on Mastocytosis (Part 1): Pathophysiology, Clinical Features, and Diagnosis

Las mastocitosis constituyen un grupo heterogéneo de enfermedades caracterizadas por la proliferación clonal de mastocitos en distintos órganos, siendo la localización cutánea la más frecuente. Es «una enfermedad rara o poco frecuente», y afecta a todos los grupos de edad, si bien suele aparecer en la primera década de la vida o entre la segunda y la quinta década de la vida, con una distribución similar por sexos. En los últimos años se han realizado grandes avances en el conocimiento fisiopatogénico del trastorno: las mutaciones somáticas del gen c-kit y la presencia de alteraciones inmunofenotípicas en los mastocitos son elementos importantes en la fisiopatogenia de las mastocitosis. Las manifestaciones clínicas son variadas y las lesiones cutáneas son la clave diagnóstica en la mayoría de los pacientes

Mastocytosis is a term used to describe a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by clonal proliferation of mast cells in various organs. The organ most often affected is the skin. Mastocytosis is a relatively rare disorder that affects both sexes equally. It can occur at any age, although it tends to appear in the first decade of life, or later, between the second and fifth decades. Our understanding of the pathophysiology of mastocytosis has improved greatly in recent years, with the discovery that somatic c-kit mutations and aberrant immunophenotypic features have an important role. The clinical manifestations of mastocytosis are diverse, and skin lesions are the key to diagnosis in most patient

Mastocitosis: actualización y aspectos de interés para el médico de atención primaria. Primera parte / Mastocytosis: Update and aspects of interest for the primary care physician: part one

Las mastocitosis son enfermedades clonales poco frecuentes, con una baja infiltración tisular, excepto en la formas agresivas, y por lo general de buen pronóstico. Los síntomas clínicos están relacionados fundamentalmente con la liberación de potentes mediadores del mastocito, más que con el grado de infiltración de los órganos. Como sucede con todas las llamadas «enfermedades raras», son poco conocidas por los médicos y esto hace que la creación de unidades monográficas de referencia suponga la mejor vía para asegurar a los pacientes el mismo derecho a la salud que aquellos que padecen enfermedades más frecuentes y conocidas. En España existe, desde el año 1993, la Red Española de Mastocitosis, y desde el año 2007, un centro nacional de referencia ubicado en el Hospital Virgen del Valle (Centro de Estudios de Mastocitosis de Castilla-La Mancha), que cuenta con los medios necesarios para el correcto manejo y control de esta patología. Sin embargo, un centro como el Centro de Estudios de Mastocitosis de Castilla-La Mancha requiere la colaboración de los médicos de asistencia primaria para poder llevar a cabo su tarea.Este trabajo pretende mejorar los conocimientos del médico de atención primaria sobre este grupo de enfermedades y remarcar la importancia de la colaboración entre el primer nivel asistencial y las unidades de referencia de atención especializada para una atención óptima e integral de estos pacientes (AU)

Mastocytosis is an uncommon clonal disease with low tissue infiltration, except in its aggressive forms, in which the prognosis is generally good. The clinical symptoms are fundamentally related with the release of potent mastocyte mediators (CM) more than with the degree of organ infiltration. As occurs with all the so-called “Rare Diseases,” they are little known by the physicians. That is why the creation of the Monographic Reference Unit is the best way to assure that the patients have the same right to health as those who suffer more frequent and known diseases. The Network of Mastocytosis (REMA) has existed in Spain since the year 1993. Since 2007, a National Reference Center, that has the necessary resources for the correct management and control of this condition, has been located in the Hospital Virgen del Valle (Institute of the Study of Mastocytosis of Castilla-La Mancha –CLMast–). However, a center such as the CLMast requires the collaboration of primary health care physicians to be able to perform its task.This work has aimed to improve the knowledge of the primary care physicians on this group of diseases and to stress the importance of collaboration between the first care level with the specialized care reference units for the optimal and total care of these patients (AU)

[Urticaria pigmentosa: a current approach]. / Urticaria pigmentosa: un enfoque actual.

The term urticaria pigmentosa (UP) denotes a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by abnormal growth and accumulation of mast cells (MC) in the skin. Symptoms result from MC chemical mediator's release, pathologic infiltration of neoplastic MC in tissues or both. Multiple molecular, genetic and chromosomal defects seem contribute to an autonomous growth, but somatic c-kit D816V mutation is more frequently found, especially in systemic disease. The aim of this paper is to provide a current overview for a better understanding of the symptoms associated with this disease, to describe its classification, recent advances in its pathophysiology and its treatment.

Mastocitosis cutánea / Cutaneous mastocytosis

Definimos mastocitosis como un conjunto de trastornos clínicos, producidos todos ellos por una proliferación de mastocitos y una acumulación en varios órganos, entre los cuales el más común es la piel. La mastocitosis cutánea fue descrita por primera vez por Nettleship y Tay, en 1869, quienes asumieron que la acumulación de mastocitos quedaba limitada únicamente a la piel. Y no es hasta 1949 cuando Ellis describió por primera vez una forma sistémica de mastocitosis. Aproximadamente, un 80% de los pacientes con mastocitosis presenta sólo una afectación cutánea, mientras que el 20% restante tiene una mastocitosis sistémica, y en más de la mitad de éstos aparecen también lesiones cutáneas. El diagnóstico se basa fundamentalmente en los hallazgos clínicos e histológicos. En general, el pronóstico en la edad pediátrica es bueno, con tendencia a la resolución espontánea antes de la pubertad. Aun así, un 15-30% de los niños en quienes la enfermedad persiste durante la edad adulta desarrollará una afectación sistémica

Mastocytosis is a rare disorder, characterized by an abnormal increase and accumulation of mast cells in one or more organ systems, most commonly the skin. Cutaneous mastocytosis was first described by Nettleship and Tay in 1869. It was assumed that the pathological accumulation of mast cells was limited to skin until 1949, when Ellis described a systemic form of mastocytosis for the first time. In approximately 80% of patients with mastocytosis, only the skin is involved. The remaining patients have systemic mastocytosis. More than a half of the patients with systemic mastocytosis have skin lesions as well. The diagnosis is mainly based on the clinical features and the histopathological examination of lesions. The prognosis in childhood is generally good, with a tendency for spontaneous resolution prior to puberty. However, 15% to 30% of the children whose disease persists into adulthood will develop systemic involvement

[Mastocytosis--two diseases with different physiopathology]. / Mastocytos--två sjukdomar med olika patofysiologi.

Mastocytosis means proliferation and accumulation of mast cells in skin and internal organs. Bone marrow cytogenetic abnormalities are similar to those found in myeloproliferative diseases. Recent findings indicate different pathogenetic forms of mastocytosis. Thus, adult patients with associated hematological diseases express mutation of the gene for the thyrosine kinase receptor, while childhood cases lack this mutation. In adults the skin and bone marrow are the most commonly affected organs but involvement of the skeleton and gastrointestinal tract also occur. Hematological malignancy is a rare but well-recognized complication. Childhood onset mastocytosis in the skin regresses spontaneously, whereas virtually all of the adult-onset cases persist.

Regression of urticaria pigmentosa in adult patients with systemic mastocytosis: correlation with clinical patterns of disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical correlates of urticaria pigmentosa (UP) regression in adult patients with systemic mastocytosis (SM). DESIGN: Cohort study of the natural history of mastocytosis. SETTING: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. PATIENTS: In a study of adult patients referred to the National Institutes of Health after 1980 and observed for a minimum of 10 years, 12 of 106 adult patients experienced clearance or fading of UP. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data from each patient's history and results of physical examination, laboratory evaluation, and organ biopsy at presentation to the National Institutes of Health were compared with findings at the patient's most recent visit. RESULTS: In the patients in whom clearance of (n = 5) or a decrease in skin lesions (n = 7) was noted, UP had persisted from 4 to 34 years (median, 17 years). Older age was a prognostic feature for regression of UP. Despite improvement of UP, the 2 patients with SM with an associated hematologic disorder experienced a deterioration in clinical condition. In the 10 patients with indolent SM, severity and frequency of symptoms decreased as the UP regressed. However, bone marrow changes consistent with SM remained. CONCLUSIONS: Urticaria pigmentosa regresses in approximately 10% of the older patients who have SM. In patients with an associated hematologic disorder such as myelodysplasia, this regression may be accompanied by disease progression. In contrast, regression of UP in patients with indolent SM parallels a decrease in disease intensity, although bone marrow findings of indolent SM remain.

In vitro reactivity of mast cells in urticaria pigmentosa skin.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the sensitivity of skin mast cells from urticaria pigmentosa (UP) patients to substance P (SP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and anti-IgE, and to compare the sensitivity of these cells with that of skin mast cells from healthy human donors. Mast cells for in vitro functional studies were obtained using an enzymatic dispersion technique from skin biopsies (from 11 patients with UP and 11 healthy donors), and the reactivity of these cells was estimated on the basis of histamine release. Our observations indicated that UP skin mast cells and healthy skin mast cells had similar sensitivities to challenge with TNF-alpha at a concentration 10(-7) M (16.4% vs 15.2%) and with anti-IgE at a dilution 1:100 (41.0% vs 37.0%). However, UP mast cells showed considerably higher sensitivity to challenge with SP at a concentration 10(-4) M than healthy skin mast cells (20.0% vs 6.8%), and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). UP skin mast cells also demonstrated significantly higher spontaneous histamine release than healthy skin mast cells (32.1% vs 12.4%, P < 0.001). Our findings indicating UP skin mast cell sensitivity to SP might suggest that mechanisms involving neurogenic inflammation could contribute to the course of this disease.

Mastocitosis en la edad pediátrica. Comunicación de tres casos / Mastocytosis on chioldhood: three cases report

La mastocitosis es una enfermedad que se caracteriza por un incremento en el número de mastocitos, que puede aparecer durante la edad pediátrica, clasificándose en dos grandes grupos. El primero está confirmado a la piel (mastocitosis cutánea) y el segundo involucra varios órganos 8mastocitosis sistémica). La mastocitosis cutánea generalmente se cura de manera espontánea a esta edad; sin embargo, debemos vigilar su evolución ante la posibilidad de complicaciones sistémicas. La mastocitosis sistémica es más frecuente en la edad adulta; sus síntomas son resultado de la liberación de mediadores, tales como la histamina, leucotrienos, prostaglandinas y otros. El tratamiento se dirige al control de los síntomas. Se comunican tres casos clínicos vistos en el Hospital infantil de México Federico Gómez, insistiendo en la benignidad de esta afección durante la niñez

Bone density, bone markers and bone radiological features in mastocytosis.

We examined the association between severity of disease in mastocytosis and skeletal manifestation and bone markers in 16 patients varying in extent of mastocytosis as determined by the urine excretion of methylimidazoleacetic acid. Both osteoporosis and osteosclerosis were found. Bone density in the hip was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in both men and women with an enhanced histamine metabolite excretion. Patients with only moderately increased mast cell mass had low bone mineral density in the hip, osteoporosis and vertebral fractures. The different skeletal disease patterns in mastocytosis might be the effect on osteoblasts and osteoclasts of biologically active substances. Mast cells release a number of vasoactive substances, including histamine which promotes osteoblasts and heparin and prostaglandin D2 which induce bone resorption by activation of osteoclasts. Systemic mastocytosis is a rare disease characterized by multi-organ infiltration by mast cells and with varying skeletal manifestations including osteoporosis. Treatment with bisphosphonates may be beneficial in arresting osteoporosis in this disorder.