Mast cell activation syndromes ‑ evaluation of current diagnostic criteria and laboratory tools in clinical practice (Review)

1. Introduction

Mast cells (MCs) were discovered in 1879 by Paul Ehrlich, who is considered the founder of modern immunology and they have been long considered to play mostly proinflammatory roles in allergic reactions (1). The scientific interest for MCs has very much increased during the last decades and recent research was able to prove their more complex implication in human pathology, such as cancer, infections, cardiovascular diseases and various systemic disorders (2).

MCs play important immunomodulatory roles, releasing a broad range of proinflammatory as well as anti-inflammatory mediators influencing the interaction of the immune system with the environment. Their predominant location in the skin, the gastrointestinal tract and the respiratory system permit the MCs to react as a first responder to any change in the environment. It was proven that MCs may react to various stimuli and intervene in pathologic processes even if they are not the central pathogenic player (3). In different conditions, MC dysfunction or abnormal location, with release of specific mediators, may result in a broad range of MCs activation disorders (MCDs) (4). There are no accurate epidemiological data regarding MCDs. The prevalence of mastocytosis is estimated at 2.6 in 10,000 people in European Union (www.ema.europa.eu) and an annual global incidence of 5-10 new cases per million population was reported (5). No data on MCAS prevalence could be found.

2. Classification and clinical forms of mast cell activation syndromes and disorders

Mast cell activation syndromes (MCAS) represent a heterogeneous group of disorders, ranging from very rare to very common, caused by episodic and severe spontaneous activation and degranulation of MCs. Abnormal activation of MCs can result from two distinct pathological conditions. The first and rare condition is due to an excessive production of abnormal MCs, such as the case of clonal mast cell disorder-mastocytosis. The neoplastic MCs proliferate due to a gain-of-function mutation, mostly in KIT, a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase, expressed by the MCs. The abnormal activated MCs infiltrate tissues and release their mediators, resulting in a broad range of clinical signs and symptoms. The second and common condition is the exaggerate activation of MCs, as a defense over-reaction against a perceived threat, such is the case of allergic reactions, infections or physical triggers (6).

Primary MCDs include mastocytosis and monoclonal mast cell activation syndrome (MMCAS), a spectrum of rare and well-defined diseases associated with clonal expansion of MCs in the skin and/or other tissues and organs, most commonly the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, liver, spleen and lymph nodes. Other rare diseases in this group are mast cell sarcoma, mast cell leukemia and hereditary hypertryptasemia (7).

Clinical presentation of systemic mastocytosis (SM) in adults is very heterogeneous and the diagnosis can be more challenging in the absence of skin involvement, due to variable and multiple organ dysfunction. Patients with cutaneous and/or systemic mastocytosis may suffer symptoms due to MC activation and release of mast cell mediators, mostly after exposure to physical, psychological, medication or food triggers (8).

Positive diagnosis of SM requires the presence of the major criterion, multifocal MC infiltration in the bone marrow and/or other extracutaneous organ plus one minor criterion or at least three of the four minor criteria: Abnormal MC expression of CD25 and/or CD2, >25% atypical MC in the bone marrow infiltrates, evidence of the characteristic c-KIT mutation and increased serum tryptase >20 ng/ml (9).

Two particular forms of systemic mastocytosis include adult patients with anaphylaxis induced by hymenoptera venom, with no skin lesions and also childhood cutaneous mastocytosis progressing to adult systemic disease, despite missing the characteristic gene mutation (10).

Diseases due to secondary mast cell activation include hypersensitivity reactions, caused by both IgE-mediated and non IgE-mediated triggers, but also physical urticarias, some chronic infections and systemic diseases with mast cell hyperplasia and activation (6). Abnormal MC activation can be localized, limited to one organ, such is the case of rhinitis, wheezing and urticaria or systemic, with anaphylaxis as the extreme example (11).

Regarding diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), it must be noted that this is mostly a clinical one, with clinical suspicion raised based on patient history and after exclusion of other possible disorders. The confirmation of MCAS might be difficult in clinical practice, also due to few available laboratory tests. Experts recommend that it should be considered in patients with appropriate clinical and laboratory profile, when all consensus criteria are fulfilled and other conditions have been excluded (12).

3. Consensus diagnostic criteria for MCAS

i) Episodic and recurrent symptoms of mast cell mediator release, affecting two or more organ systems (often in the form of anaphylaxis). ii) Complete resolution of symptoms or decrease in the frequency or severity of symptoms with anti-mast cell mediator therapy (antihistamines, leukotrienes modifiers and mast cell stabilizer agents). iii) Evidence of increase in a validated urinary or serum marker of MCAS (preferably with reproducible results obtained during more than one symptomatic episode) (12).

There is no single pathognomonic clinical presentation for MCAS, therefore all three consensus criteria should be fulfilled in order to confirm the diagnosis (13).

Patients with MCAS may have variable clinical phenotype, affecting multiple organ systems, but the key feature is recurrent episodes of severe symptoms (anaphylaxis), with concurrent involvement of minimum two organ systems and association with acute increase of specific biologic mediator levels. Idiopathic anaphylaxis is considered a subtype of MCAS, since MCs are the only effector cells of anaphylaxis in humans, when no possible cause or stimulus can be proven (7). Persistent symptoms, such as chronic urticaria or uncontrolled asthma, as well as chronic increases of biologic mediators do not support MCAS diagnosis. The most frequently symptoms reported by patients with MCAS, due to MCs mediator release are: cardiovascular-hypotension, tachycardia, syncope; cutaneous-pruritus, urticaria, flushing, angioedema; respiratory-wheezing, stridor; gastrointestinal-crampy abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting (14).

4. Mast cell mediators and their clinical use in diagnosing MCAS

MCAS symptoms are due to secretion of MC products, such as histamine, tryptase, prostaglandin D2 and leukotrienes, with few of them clinically useful as markers of MCs activation and validated laboratory tools for diagnostic confirmation (15) (Table I).

Table I Clinically available and validated markers of mast cell activation (adapted from Akin, 2017) (6).

Table I

Clinically available and validated markers of mast cell activation (adapted from Akin, 2017) (6).

Marker	Diagnostic value and clinical interpretation
Serum tryptase	The most specific marker, almost always increased in patients with severe mast cell activation episodes (anaphylaxis). Repeated measurements are needed: within 4 h of an episode and compared with baseline values (outside of MCs activation). Increased baseline levels might indicate mastocytosis or familial hypertryptasemia (after excluding renal disease or myeloid neoplasm).
Urinary histamine metabolites	Fairly specific for mast cell activation, may be influenced by diet or bacterial contamination. Specific cutoffs for MCAS is not established.
Urinary prostaglandin D2 or metabolites	Increased in patients with mast cell activation, but not recommended as the single marker of mast cell activation. Can guide the decision to initiate aspirin therapy (except the patients with allergy to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Urinary leukotriene E4	Increased in patients with mast cell activation, but less clinical value and experience comparing to other markers. Might guide the decision to initiate leukotriene-targeting therapy.

[i] MCs, mast cells; MCAS, mast cell activation syndromes.

Serum tryptase is the most specific marker of MC activation and is currently used as a reliable diagnostic tool for confirmation of MCDs, including MCAS, providing its correct measurement and interpretation (16). The serum tryptase level usually increases during mast cell degranulation, with a peak between 1 and 4 h. A normal tryptase level is considered 5 ng/ml, a level greater than 11.4 ng/ml is considered elevated and a level greater than 20 ng/ml is a minor diagnostic criterion for systemic mastocytosis (17). According to consensus criteria for MCAS diagnosis, a change of 20% of baseline serum tryptase level plus 2 ng/ml is indicative for a mast cell activation episode, mostly due to systemic immediate hypersensitivity reactions or anaphylaxis (12).

5. Differential diagnosis of MCAS

Many diseases can be considered as alternate possible diagnostic when evaluating MCAS in clinical practice (Table II).

Table II Diseases currently considered for differential diagnosis of MCAS (adapted from Khokhar and Akin, 2020) (7).

Table II

Diseases currently considered for differential diagnosis of MCAS (adapted from Khokhar and Akin, 2020) (7).

Vasovagal syncope and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome

Endocrine: Carcinoid syndrome, pheochromocytoma, thyroid cancer, Addison disease

Cutaneous: Chronic urticaria, dermatomyositis, idiopathic flushing, contact or atopic dermatitis

Neuropsychiatric: Panic attacks, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, eating disorders

Hereditary hypertryptasemia

Hereditary or acquired angioedema

Gastrointestinal: Irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcer disease, eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders

Cardiac: Arrythmias, coronary artery disease

Drug adverse effects: Niacin-induced flushing, steroid toxicity, withdrawal of adrenergic medications, sympathomimetics, anticholinergic toxicity, caffeine effect, alcohol use or withdrawal

[i] MCAS, mast cell activation syndromes.

A subgroup of patients with MCDs may associate concomitant blood or tissue hypereosinophilia (HE), possibly due to shared roles of MCs and eosinophils in many diseases, classically associated with the pathogenesis of allergic diseases (18,19). MCs role in parasitic infections is much less clear compared with that of eosinophils, despite considering infections as possible triggers for activation of MCs in some individuals. Recent data from literature confirmed the bidirectional interactions between these cells and their important implication not only in allergic diseases, but also in many inflammatory, cardiovascular and neoplastic disorders (20). An evaluation of the prognostic impact of eosinophils in mastocytosis patients, concluded that HE did not influence mediator-related symptoms or allergic reactions, but was related with worse prognosis, compared with mastocytosis patients without eosinophilia (21). Since both MCDs and eosinophilic diseases are rare and sometimes poorly understood, their association brings even more difficulty in adequately diagnosing and treating these complex pathological conditions.

6. Discussion

MCDs, including MCAS and systemic mastocytosis, are rare diseases, generally addressed to different medical specialists, depending on the clinical presentation and the most prominent symptoms. Long delay until diagnosis confirmation is often reported, due to rather low awareness of the disease within different medical specialties. A high index of suspicion is required mainly in the clinical setting of unexplained anaphylaxis, osteoporosis in young patients, episodes of flushing, persistent and refractory abdominal cramping or gastrointestinal disease. Many patients may ask allergist evaluation for presumptive intolerances or multiple food or drug allergies that need complex evaluation (22). In other patients, more severe or refractory cutaneous diseases or symptoms aggravated by psychological triggers may indicate possible rare diseases, including MCAS (23,24). Given the continuous increasing prevalence of allergic diseases worldwide, the problematic allergies or possible allergic reactions became stringent, also related to MCAS and diseases. There are still difficulties and differences between countries in practicing allergology specialty, with rather low number of specialists, unrecognized cases and high costs for laboratory tests, as have been showed by a local study (25).

The diagnosis and management of MCDs is difficult in clinical practice, requiring vast knowledge, multidisciplinary approach and personalized medicine procedures (26). Many patients may consider themselves as having MCAS, due to a variety of persistent multisystem symptoms, including chronic fatigue, intolerances to various environmental factors, food and medication, memory loss or headache, with no clear cause, despite complex medical evaluation. The is no scientific evidence suggesting that an abnormal mast cell phenotype could be responsible for this type of chronic clinical pattern and a high index of suspicion is very important before addressing patients with possible MCDs to allergists or other specialists.

In conclusion, MCAS represent a rare and difficult to manage clinical entity. Diagnosis confirmation may take a long time, involve unpleasant diagnostic procedures and high costs, leading to frustration of both patients and doctors. There is a clear need for developing research and multidisciplinary collaboration in the field of allergic and rare diseases, including mast cell disorders, in order to improve diagnosis and management of this complex pathology.

Acknowledgements

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Funding

No funding was received.

Availability of data and materials

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Authors' contributions

PML designed the study and wrote the manuscript. VFA, CU, SZ, OB and CDN contributed to the drafting of the manuscript and were involved in the conception of the study. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Patient consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

References