Cutaneous mastocytosis and allergic diseases in children: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mastocytosis is a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by abnormal accumulation of clonal mast cells in one or more organs. Comorbidities in patients with mastocytosis include IgE-dependent allergies, psychiatric or psychological disorders, and vitamin D deficiency. Despite the clinical similarities between allergies and mastocytosis, only a few European studies have considered these comorbidities.
 AIM: To analyze the frequency of concomitant-allergic diseases in children with cutaneous mastocytosis.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 248 children aged 6 months to 17 years who were diagnosed with cutaneous mastocytosis and received outpatient treatment and observation at the Moscow Scientific and Practical Center for Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology between March 2022 and June 2023 were analyzed. Serum levels of total and allergen-specific IgE were analyzed in children with and without allergic diseases. In addition, a positive history of allergy was analyzed in close relatives of children with cutaneous mastocytosis.
 RESULTS: Every third child (36.7%) with cutaneous mastocytosis had a concomitant allergic disease. Relatives of 27.4% of the examined children had allergic diseases. The process was significantly more often accompanied by allergic diseases in children with mastocytomas than in those with maculopapular cutaneous mastocytosis (χ2=45.46; p=0.001). The level of total IgE was not a statistically significant sign of the presence of allergic diseases in cutaneous mastocytosis (χ2=1.161; p=0.3). Allergen-specific IgE was detected in 47.2% of the children with allergic diseases. Among children without signs of food allergy and pollinosis, asymptomatic low and moderate sensitization to any plant product and birch was detected in 26.5%. Sensitization to respiratory allergens was found in 8% of children with cutaneous mastocytosis without allergic diseases.
 CONCLUSIONS: In Russia, this study demonstrated for the first time a high incidence of allergic diseases in children with cutaneous mastocytosis. The results showed that all clinical forms of mastocytosis in children, including cutaneous mastocytosis, should be subjected to interdisciplinary observation and examination. The timely detection of comorbid allergic diseases contributes to the development of individual techniques for the treatment and prevention of complications and anaphylaxis.