title: Prevalence of allergy and anaphylactic symptoms in 210 adult and pediatric patients with mastocytosis in Spain: a study of the Spanish network on mastocytosis (REMA).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mast cells (MCs) play a key role in allergic diseases through the release of inflammatory mediators, which are responsible of allergic symptoms. Mastocytosis is characterized by an abnormal proliferation and accumulation of mast cells, in which mediators are released intermittingly or continuously. Despite these clinical similarities, few studies have addressed the presence of allergic symptoms in mastocytosis patients, including anaphylaxis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A prospective evaluation was carried out to study the prevalence of allergic diseases in patients with mastocytosis and their impact on the natural history of mastocytosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was given to 210 patients with mastocytosis to evaluate the history of asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis, urticaria and anaphylaxis. Patients underwent total IgE, Phadiatop infant (aeroallergens and food allergens), specific IgE to latex and to Anisakis simplex determinations. Skin tests were done to 72 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of allergy, as defined by clinical symptoms associated to specific IgE, was 23.9%. Total IgE level was significantly higher in patients with allergy as compared with patients without allergy (median 58 vs. 16.5 kU/L, P<0.0001). Anaphylactic symptoms were present in 36 patients (22%), in nine the allergen was identified. Males had more allergy and anaphylactic symptoms than females (61.5% vs. 38.5% and 72% vs. 28%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allergic diseases coexist in patients with mastocytosis with similar frequency as compared with the general population. Anaphylactic symptoms are more prevalent in males with mastocytosis and in patients with elevated IgE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of allergy in mastocytosis is similar to the general population. Anaphylactic symptoms are more prevalent in males and in patients with elevated IgE. The coexistence of atopy does not influence mastocytosis-associated symptoms.
authors: Allergy Department, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: González de Olano
authors: B
authors: B
authors: de la Hoz Caballer
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Núñez López
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Sánchez Muñoz
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Cuevas Agustín
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Diéguez
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Alvarez Twose
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Castells
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Escribano Mora
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008415:Mastocytosis / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012882:Skin Tests; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A