Elevated tryptase levels are associated with greater bone density in a cohort of patients with mastocytosis.
BACKGROUND
Mastocytosis is associated with a pathological increase in tissue mast cells. Associated skeletal problems include a decrease in bone density and pathological fractures.


METHODS
In order to explore the relationship between bone density and the severity of mastocytosis, 21 patients with mastocytosis who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were entered into this study. Correlation coefficients were computed between Z-scores and demographic, clinical and laboratory data. Femoral neck Z-scores correlated with serum tryptase levels when all the patients were considered (p=0.029).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with less severe disease had significantly lower values at the L1-L4 spine (p=0.046) and femoral neck (p=0.029) Z-scores compared to patients with more severe disease. Most patients who had low Z-scores (between -1 and -2.5) were under 50 years of age, had less severe disease and had lower serum tryptase levels. A history of gastroesophageal reflux disease and a history of hypotensive episodes correlated with lower L1-L4 spine Z-scores (p<0.05). Thus, patients with less severe disease and lower serum tryptase levels should in particular have their bone density determined with treatment appropriate to the findings.
Kushnir-Sukhov
Nataliya M
NM
Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-1881, USA. nkushnir@niaid.nih.gov
Brittain
Erica
E
Reynolds
James C
JC
Akin
Cem
C
Metcalfe
Dean D
DD
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008415:Mastocytosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011884:Radius / Q000473:pathology; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000097:blood*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D053802:Tryptases
D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D053802:Tryptases