title: ["Smoldering systemic mastocytosis. "Successful therapy with cladribine].
abstract: Mastocytoses are a heterogenous group of diseases characterized by proliferation and accumulation of mast cells in the skin and other organs. They are subdivided into cutaneous mastocytoses; systemic forms, which may appear with or without skin lesions; mast cell sarcomas and extracutaneous, localized, benign mastocytomas. Systemic mastocytoses apart from the skin mainly involve bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, bones, lymph nodes, spleen and liver. Whereas indolent forms of systemic mastocytosis are mainly treated with antihistamines, glucocorticosteroids and PUVA therapy, the more aggressive forms, including mast cell leukemia, often require cytostatic chemotherapy. A 53-year old patient with beginning "smoldering systemic mastocytosis" failed to respond to high-dose systemic glucocorticosteroids and interferon-alpha. Treatment with cladribine led to an impressive improvement of skin lesions, a significant decrease in tryptase serum levels and stabilization of bone marrow infiltrates.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie der Universität Regensburg, Regensburg. verena.schleyer@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schleyer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Landthaler
authors.forename: R-M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Szeimies
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D017338:Cladribine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D034721:Mastocytosis, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D017338:Cladribine