Mast Cell Activation Disease (MCAD) encompasses two forms of disease related to mast cells. Mast cells are immune system cells that reside in tissues throughout the body and signal the innate immune response. This is what you see after a cut or a burn and often begins with a oink discolouration followed by inflammation.
Systemic Mastocytosis (SM) is generally the more severe form and includes four types, all of which include the fact that the body is producing too many mast cells. Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is where the body produces a relatively normal number of mast cells, but they release their contents, what is referred to as “degranulation,” for unusual circumstances and release far more histamine and other contents than is required in normal individuals.
The four types of Systemic Mastocytosis with increasing severity of symptoms are Indolent SM, Smoldering SM, Aggressive SM and Mast Cell Leukemia. In all cases the body is producing too many mast cells.
In all cases of MCAD, individuals experience allergic reactions often mislabeled “sensitivities” that can and do result in severe reactions, anaphylaxis, including anaphylactic shock and even death.
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