Mastocytosis in infants and children: recognition of patterns of skin disease.
Mastocytosis is a disease characterized by an increase in the number of tissue mast cells and a concomitant increase in mast cell-derived mediators. To demonstrate the spectrum of skin disease in mastocytosis in the pediatric population, five children with mastocytosis and complaints of urticaria (4/5), bullae/vesicles (3/5), abdominal pain (3/5), flushing (2/5), headache (1/5), and bone pain (1/5) are reviewed. Confirmation of the diagnosis of cutaneous mastocytosis was obtained by histologic examination of a biopsy of lesional skin; however, mast cell numbers in lesional skin did not correlate with plasma histamine levels or the extent of cutaneous involvement. Mastocytosis is a diagnosis that must be recognized in the differential diagnosis of pediatric urticarial diseases.
Kirshenbaum
A S
AS
Mast Cell Physiology Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Kettelhut
B V
BV
Metcalfe
D D
DD
Garriga
M M
MM
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002452:Cell Count; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology; D008415:Mastocytosis / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D014582:Urticaria Pigmentosa / Q000473:pathology
D006632:Histamine