[Indolent mastocytosis and bronchial hyperreactivity. A case report]

Mastocytosis (MS) may be exclusively cutaneous or, more rarely, systemic. MS may be indolent (benign), aggressive, leukaemic or associated with a myeloproliferative disorder. The clinical expression of MS may be secondary to the direct consequences of the development of mastocytes in tissue or correspond to the paroxysmal features related to the liberation of vasoactive and spasmogenic mediators by activated mastocytes. Dyspnoeic episodes are classical but the physiopathological mechanism is poorly documented. True asthma or bronchopulmonary mastocytosis seems rare. The authors report evidence of non-specific bronchial hyper-reactivity (HRB) to Carbachol in a patient effected with benign cutaneous mastocytosis with secondary elevation of the total serum IGE. Factors determining the HIB are discussed and appear primarily linked to the mastocytosis.