Mast cell disorder may be involved in MCS .. this is an interesting
link:
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m0ISW/2001_Jan/70777255/p1/article.jhtml?term=mastocytosis
Also people with unexplained 'allergic' reactions should be aware that
they may have a mast cell disorder.
Mastocytosis and several only- just -being understood (but related)
conditions such as Mast Cell Activation Disorder are thought to be
very under-diagnosed but behave like allergies (itching, brain fog,
tachycardia, anaphylactic episodes; food, chemical and drug reactions,
gastro problems, but symptoms vary ) It is thought now that many ppl
with idiopathic anaphylaxis/urticaria may in fact have mast cell
problems. Doctors tend to think that that you can only have this
disorder if you have the rash Urticaria Pigmentosa, but the last
official estimate of patients with systemic mastocytosis in the USA
tallied only 50% of patients with skin lesions. It can be a chronic
disease or it can get to a serious and acute phase (some ppl have it
all their lives and it doesn't bother them too much). Average time
taken to get a diagnosis is 10 years, as standard blood tests &
allergy tests will consistently come up normal. There are some very
specialised tests which can rule it in, but none which can rule it
out. Lots of patients are diagnosed simply because they have the
symptoms, everything else has been ruled out, and the drugs work.
Drugs are similar to those for allergies: H1 antihistamines, H2
blockers, also anti-leukotrines and mast cell stabilisers.
If you would like more info this mailing group is recommended.
http://www.tbm.tudelft.nl/webstaf/ivob/masto/
(apologies if this post comes up twice - google problems_