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Patient Portrayal 1

The following patient portrayals are examples of different patient types, which may help you recognize patients in your practice who may be at risk of SM. Patient portrayals are fictionalized through review of published literature and follow the WHO Diagnostic Criteria for SM.1,a These are not actual patients and are provided for educational purposes only and not intended as medical guidance or advice for practice. You are advised to use independent clinical judgment when making individual patient diagnoses and treatment decisions.

Patient Portrayal

Clinical Presentation

Tim is a 56-year-old male who has been experiencing worsening skin lesions and has decided to have his symptoms assessed by a dermatologist. A thorough assessment with his doctor revealed some additional information:

  • Skin lesions on chest and back that have spread to extremities2,3
  • Skin lesions positive for
    Darier sign
    , and patient experiencing episodes of flushing, and pruritus2,4
  • Increased anxiety about leaving the house5
  • Daily GI symptoms (pain, bloating, diarrhea, and nausea) that worsen with certain foods6,7
  • Dermatologist referred
    Tim to an allergist
    after a peripheral blood test
    showed aberrant expression of CD25-positive MCs1,8

GI, gastrointestinal; MC, mast cell; SM, systemic mastocytosis; WHO, World Health Organization.
a Please note, these are the anticipated changes to the WHO guidelines, 5th edition, volume 11; cited from the beta version (ahead of print) available online.1

Click through the options below to see additional information for Tim, including medical history, current medications, and laboratory results.

Given this patient’s clinical presentation that includes skin lesions positive for Darier sign,
flushing, maculopapular lesions, and anaphylaxis, here are some potential considerations
when evaluating this fictional patient.

Questions to Consider for a Diagnostic Workup:

Click the plus button to reveal answers

Does this patient have any MC mediator-related symptoms?

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Yes. Activated MCs release various mediators, which result in a wide range of symptoms.
Tim is experiencing worsening maculopapular lesions, daily GI symptoms, and anaphylactic
episodes to bee stings.1,2,6,9

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Does this patient have any elevated serum tryptase levels?a

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Yes. The normal median tryptase level in the healthy population is ~5 ng/mL, with a range of
1-15 ng/mL.10,11 Tim’s initial serum tryptase level was 28 ng/mL with follow-up levels
persistently elevated at 31 ng/mL, which is higher than the normal average.

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Blood
work

Does this patient have a KIT D816V mutation present detected by a high-sensitivity assay?a

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Yes. Using a peripheral blood test sample, a high-sensitivity assay confirmed the presence of
a KIT D816V mutation
. Follow-up bone marrow biopsy testing confirmed the presence of a
KIT D816V mutation.1,2,12,a

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Was there an aberrant expression of either CD2, CD25, or CD30 in MCs in either the bone
marrow, blood, or other extracutaneous organ(s)?

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Yes. A blood test was performed and results confirmed the presence of CD25-positive MCs,
which are not present in normal MCs.1,8

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Does this patient have a presence of multifocal dense infiltrates of MCs (≥15 MCs in
aggregates) in bone marrow biopsy and/or biopsy of other extracutaneous organ(s)?

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Yes. A bone marrow biopsy was performed and results confirmed the presence of multifocal dense
infiltrates of MCs (≥15 MCs in aggregates).
1,9,13

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aBlood work.

Based on these findings, what would be your diagnosis?

DIAGNOSIS plus icon

References:

  1. Verstovek S, Colmenero I, Cozzolino I, et al. Systemic mastocytosis. In: WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board. Haematolymphoid tumours [Internet; beta version ahead of print]. International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2023. (WHO classification of tumours series, 5th ed; vol 11). Accessed September 28, 2023. https://tumourclassification.iarc.who.int/chapters/63
  2. Pardanani A. Systemic mastocytosis in adults: 2023 update on diagnosis, risk stratification and management. Am J Hematol. 2023;98(7):1097-1116.
  3. Hartmann K, Escribano L, Grattan C, et al. Cutaneous manifestations in patients with mastocytosis: Consensus report of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis; the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; and the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;137:35-45.
  4. Trizuljak J, Sperr WR, Nekvindová L, et al. Clinical features and survival of patients with indolent systemic mastocytosis defined by the updated WHO classification. Allergy. 2020;75:1927-1938.
  5. Mesa RA, Sullivan EM, Dubinski D, et al. Perceptions of patient disease burden and management approaches in systemic mastocytosis: results of the TouchStone healthcare provider survey.
    Cancer. 2022;128(20):3700-3708.
  6. Ramsay DB, Stephen S, Borum M, et al. Mast cells in gastrointestinal disease. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2010;6(12):772-777.
  7. Jarkvist J, Brockow K, Gülen T. Low frequency of IgE-mediated food hypersensitivity in mastocytosis. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020;8(9):3093-3101.
  8. Pardanani A. How I treat patients with indolent and smoldering mastocytosis (rare conditions but difficult to manage). Blood. 2013;121(16):3085-3094.
  9. Theoharides TC, Valent P, Akin C. Mast cells, mastocytosis, and related disorders. N Engl J Med. 2015;373(2):163-172.
  10. Sperr WR, El-Samahi A, Kundi M, et al. Elevated tryptase levels selectively cluster in myeloid neoplasms: a novel diagnostic approach and screen marker in clinical haematology. Eur J Clin Invest. 2009;39(10):914-923.
  11. Schwartz LB. Diagnostic value of tryptase in anaphylaxis and mastocytosis. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2006;26(3):451-463.
  12. Hoermann G, Sotlar K, Jawhar M, et al. Standards of genetic testing in the diagnosis and prognostication of systemic mastocytosis in 2022: recommendations in the EU-US Cooperative Group.
    J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022;10(8):1953-1963.
  13. Olivera A, Beaven MA, Metcalfe DD. Mast cells signal their importance in health and disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018;142(2):381-393.