Don't Get Tripped up by Tryptase

Elevated tryptase levels are significant indicators of mast cell activation and related disorders such as mastocytosis and anaphylaxis.

Excess tryptase can lead to systemic symptoms and severe allergic reactions. These elevated levels are particularly crucial in diagnosing mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), where a significant rise in tryptase from the baseline confirms an acute mast cell activation event.

In cases of anaphylaxis, high tryptase levels corroborate the systemic nature of the reaction, which affects multiple organ systems and potentially leads to life-threatening conditions. Tryptase measurement is also a key diagnostic tool for conditions like systemic mastocytosis, especially when symptoms of hypersensitivity are present, aiding in differentiating between various allergic and inflammatory responses.

The most common presenting symptoms and potential triggers of mast cell activation

Source: Jennings, Susan V et al. “Symptoms of mast cell activation: The patient perspective.” Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology vol. 127,4 (2021): 407-409. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2021.07.004 Creative Commons Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

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