Active clinical trials for "Mastocytosis"

Cytokine Production Patterns in Patients with Systemic Mastocytosis Compared with Atopic Dermatitis and Healthy Individuals Summary: This study will examine how mast cells (cells involved in allergic reactions) migrate and multiply in the skin of patients with mastocytosis, a condition characterized by too many mast cells in the body. The mast cells tend to multiply in the skin, causing dark, itchy skin spots known as urticaria pigmentosa. This study will determine if the skin of patients with mastocytosis produces chemicals called cytokines that cause mast cells to migrate to the skin and multiply. The findings will be compared with those from normal volunteers and patients with atopic dermatitis, a skin disease characterized by recurrent itchy rash usually seen in people with a family history of allergies. Healthy volunteers, patients with mastocytosis and patients with atopic dermatitis 18 years of age and older may be eligible for this study. Participants will have the following tests and procedures: Suction blisters - Two to eight small blisters will be raised on the forearm using gentle suction. The fluid in the blisters will be collected with a syringe to study the chemicals produced by the skin. The tops of the blisters may be removed for research. Template study - Patients with high cytokine content in the blister fluid may have a template study. For this procedure, a plastic block (template) with holes matching the blister sites is placed over the blistered area. The wells of the template are filled with salt water and the fluid is removed with a syringe at 3, 8 and/or 24 hours. Patients are hospitalized for 24 hours for this study. Skin biopsy - A skin biopsy will be done to correlate cytokine levels with the number of mast cells in the skin. An area of skin is numbed with an anesthetic and a small circular area about the size of a pencil eraser is removed, using a sharp cookie cutter-type instrument. Blood draw - About 4 tablespoons of blood will be drawn to compare the chemicals in the blood with those in the blister fluid. The blood will also be analyzed for a complete blood count, clotting factors and substances that may be elevated in people with allergies.

This study will evaluate and follow patients with various allergic, hypersensitivity and inflammatory disorders. The protocol is not designed to test new treatments; patients will be managed with standard of care therapies. Participants may be referred to other current NIAID protocols as appropriate or to new studies as they are developed, but will not be required to join another study. Patients with allergic, hypersensitivity or inflammatory disorders between the ages of 3 years and 80 years may be eligible for this study. Conditions of interest include, but are not limited to, asthma, allergic rhinitis, mastocytosis, atopic dermatitis and food allergy. Participants will have a medical history and physical examination, plus standard tests for diagnosing and treating their specific disorder. Tests may include routine blood and urine studies, X-rays or other imaging studies, allergy skin tests and lung function tests. Blood samples may be collected for research on immune system cells and other substances involved in immune function. Generally, about 2 to 6 tablespoons will be drawn at a time, but no more than 16 ounces will be collected over a 6-week period. NIH does not provide emergency medical treatment or treatment for other, unrelated conditions the patient may have. Therefore, patients must maintain a personal physician for these purposes.

The molecular mechanisms of action of photo(chemo)therapy in skin diseases are investigated in this study. The phototherapeutic modalities employed include UVB (ultraviolet B), UVA (ultraviolet A), PUVA (psoralen+UVA) and/or extracorporeal photochemotherapy (photopheresis). The study will address whether and how photo(chemo)therapy affects specific biologic pathways in different skin disorders and search for predictive biomarkers.

Pediatric mastocytosis is an orphan disease, which encompasses several clinically distinct entities including solitary mastocytoma, urticaria pigmentosa, diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis and the newly recognized mast cell activation syndrome. The most common form of pediatric mastocytosis is cutaneous maculopapular mastocytosis (CMPM), also known as urticaria pigmentosa (UP). There are significant knowledge gaps regarding the genetic basis of pediatric mastocytosis and the functional activity of mast cells in this condition. The Pediatric Dermatology and Pediatric Oncology services at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital are seeing significant growth in clinical volumes of pediatric mastocytosis, including rare, familial cases. The aims of this study are to prospectively explore germline risk for UP and to perform a mutational analysis to identify somatic mutations, beyond those currently identified, in pediatric patients with UP.

Mastocytosis is a heterogeneous rare disease. A 27-item questionnaire to assess the quality of life of patients with cutaneous/ indolent systemic mastocytosis was developed in the German language and validated in the English language in 2015. The team of the University Charité Berlin and the company Moxie - intellectual proprietor of the questionnaire - proposed the use of the recommendations of Baiardini et al. 2010, for linguistic adaptation of this questionnaire in other languages.

The Mast Cell Connect Registry is a voluntary, observational database that will capture demographic, socioeconomic, and disease information directly from patients with mastocytosis via a secure web-based tool. No experimental intervention is involved.

This study will 1) identify characteristics of bone marrow mast cells in patients with unexplained anaphylaxis and flushing or with mastocytosis and 2) determine whether mastocytosis might be the underlying cause of unexplained anaphylaxis in some patients with this condition. Anaphylaxis is a hypersensitivity reaction in which patients may have flushing, hives, stuffy nose, red itchy eyes, difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue, throat, palms and soles, abdominal cramping, lightheadedness, decreased blood pressure, and loss of consciousness. Although allergens are a common cause of anaphylactic episodes, no cause can be identified in up to 50 percent of patients who have recurrent events. Mastocytosis is a disease of excessive mast cells in tissues such as skin and bone marrow. These cells can release chemicals that result in itching, blisters, flushing, bone pain, and abdominal pain. Patients 18 years of age and older who have episodes of anaphylaxis or flushing with no apparent cause or who have mastocytosis may be eligible for this study. Participants will have a medical history and physical examination; blood tests to identify genetic changes that are important in the growth, development, and functioning of human mast cells; and bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. For the bone marrow procedure, the skin over the hipbone and the outer surface of the bone itself are numbed with local anesthesia. Then, a special needle is inserted into the hipbone and about 1 tablespoon of bone marrow is drawn into a syringe. Another needle is inserted into the same area to collect a small piece of the bone marrow. Additional procedures may include allergen testing, urinalysis, and 24-hour urine collection. Participants will return to NIH for reassessment of disease status in 12 to 18 months. The follow-up evaluation will include a history and physical examination, blood tests, possible repeat bone marrow and aspiration in patients whose clinical signs or symptoms change significantly, and other tests as clinically indicated. First-degree relatives (parents, children, siblings) may be enrolled in limited instances to provide a blood sample for genetic analysis related to mast cell development and function for comparison with that of patients when they have similar symptoms.

This study will determine what growth factors are involved in promoting and inhibiting mastocytosis-an abnormal increase of mast cells in one or more organ systems. Mast cells release chemicals that can cause itching, blisters, flushing, bone pain, and abdominal pain. Little is known about the disease and there is no cure. Steroids and antihistamines can help reduce some symptoms. Patients from birth to 80 years of age with increased mast cells in at least one organ system may be eligible for this 3-year study. Family members may also be enrolled for genetic testing. Patients will be evaluated yearly at the NIH Clinical Center with the following tests and procedures: Medical history and physical examination. Blood samples. Laboratory blood tests, as medically indicated. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy - For the bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, the back hipbone is punctured with a sterile needle. Five milliliters (1 teaspoon) of marrow is withdrawn through a syringe and a 1/2-inch piece of tissue is extracted with a special needle. The blood and bone marrow samples will be used for clinical care and for research to determine if mastocytosis is due to mast cell growth factors or genetic changes. Patients who require further evaluation and tests will have recommendations made to their primary physician. Any patient who requires immediate treatment will be admitted to the hospital. Standard medical treatment may include antihistamines for itching; steroids for severe abdominal symptoms such as cramping, diarrhea, and evidence of increased mast cells determined by an upper GI study; and adrenaline for anaphylactic shock. Patients who do not respond to conventional treatment may be offered participation in an experimental therapy study. Participating family members will have a medical history and a blood sample drawn to look for genetic abnormalities.

In this study, the investigators will determine the utility of Tamoxifen, a non-cytotoxic agent, to improve quality of life, biochemical parameters, and bone marrow involvement in systemic mastocytosis patients having 1) up to 40% bone marrow infiltration by mast cells and/or 2) mediator-release symptoms which are not controlled by tolerated doses of standard "non-cytotoxic" medications regardless of the percentage bone marrow involvement by mastocytosis. The dose of Tamoxifen will be 40 mg/day and the duration of treatment will be for one year. Patients currently taking interferon alfa, imatinib mesylate, or cladribine will be excluded until these medications have been stopped.

The purpose of this study is to explore the key symptoms of individuals with systemic mastocytosis. Interviews of enrolled individuals will be conducted to learn about the disease symptoms and condition. The interview will last approximately 60 minutes and will be conducted by a trained interviewer, be audio-recorded (with patient consent), and all information provided by the patient will be treated confidentially and made anonymous so that it is non-identifiable. The interview may be conducted face-to-face, over the phone, or virtually via Skype, a free video conferencing program, depending upon the patient's geographic location. Patients will be compensated for their participating time. This is not a medication-related study, and no medication will be distributed or tested during this study. Participation in this study will not affect any treatment or assistance that a patient currently receives or may receive in the future.