People living with systemic mastocytosis (SM) experience a range of symptoms triggered by the immune response of mast cells that affect overall health and quality of life.
The buildup of mast cells in the connective tissue, skin and internal organs causes inflammation and long-term damage.
What is SM?
Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a rare hematological disease characterized by mast cells that are overactive and accumulate in different parts of the body such as the bone marrow, liver, spleen, gastrointestinal tract and lymph nodes.
Symptom episodes are triggered by the large amounts of chemicals released by mast cells that cause inflammation in different parts of the body.
What causes inflammation in SM?
When mast cells detect an allergen or foreign agent in the body, they launch an immune response and release chemicals such as histamine, heparin, cytokines and growth factors into the blood. These chemicals cause inflammation, allowing blood cells to dilate and to facilitate the flow of blood to the site of the infection, injury or allergen.
Learn more about SM signs and symptoms
In SM, as the result of a gene mutation, mast cells develop abnormally and accumulate in the skin tissue and organs in uncontrollable numbers. When they initiate an allergic reaction, the effect is more intense, with large quantities of inflammatory mediators released.
What is the result of this inflammation?
In SM, the inflammatory response triggers symptoms throughout the body. People living with SM can find the symptom burden challenging to manage.
In the gastrointestinal tract, inflammation can cause symptoms that may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Over time, it can lead to stomach ulcers.
In the skin, inflammation is visible as red flushing and itchiness of the skin.
In the bones, the buildup of mast cells and the chemicals released can cause bone and joint pain. Osteopenia and osteoporosis can also develop over time.
Brain inflammation leads to symptoms of brain fog and mood changes.
Anaphylaxis can occur as a result of excessive amounts of histamine in the blood. The histamine stimulates the dilation of blood vessels and increases vascular permeability, heart rate, cardiac contraction and glandular secretion. It also creates a buildup of mucus in the airways.
How to manage inflammation in SM
Effectively managing inflammation in SM to reduce its effect on health and well-being requires an approach that includes medication and lifestyle and diet adaptations.
When patients recognize personal symptom triggers, they can avoid them by eating a low-histamine diet; stopping or limiting alcohol; and avoiding emotional stress, physical exertion, sudden changes in hot and cold, insect stings, pollens, skin friction and some medications.
An SM patient’s doctor may prescribe H1 and H2 antihistamines to help block the effects of histamine. Cromolyn sodium, a mast cell stabilizer, helps in relieving abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, skin itchiness, flushing and brain fog.
