[Urticaria pigmentosa: a current approach]

The term urticaria pigmentosa (UP) denotes a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by abnormal growth and accumulation of mast cells (MC) in the skin. Symptoms result from MC chemical mediator's release, pathologic infiltration of neoplastic MC in tissues or both. Multiple molecular, genetic and chromosomal defects seem contribute to an autonomous growth, but somatic c-kit D816V mutation is more frequently found, especially in systemic disease. The aim of this paper is to provide a current overview for a better understanding of the symptoms associated with this disease, to describe its classification, recent advances in its pathophysiology and its treatment.