National Mastocytosis Symposium UMCG/NMCG

The complexity within mastocytosis; challenges in a very heterogeneous disease

Systemic mastocytosis is a rare condition characterized by proliferation, accumulation and degranulation of pathological mast cells in various tissues, especially in skin, bone marrow and gastro-intestinal tract. Symptoms vary widely from flushing to gastro-intestinal complaint and anaphylaxis. This symposium tries to give answers on the different aspects and complexity within the field of mastocytosis, ranging from just urticaria pigmentosa to indolent and aggressive forms.

The whole fieldwill be covered by a state of the art lecture by Peter Valent, one of the most influencing people within the clinical and research field of mastocytosis and who was prominent in defining the WHO disease definitions.

Other aspects of mastocytosis like understanding the various symptoms, quality of life and treatment of signs and symptoms within this heterogenous disease will be covered. Experts in the field of mastocytosis will touch upon practical and research issues regarding gastro-intestinal complaints, cardiovascular factors, dermatological aspects and when to subscribe and use an adrenaline autoinjector. Furthermore, prognostic factors are important for determining the strategy of the sequential use of several treatment options for these patients. This is even more challenging given the rapid development of new tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

We hope that this symposium will be a great opportunity to get new insights into all aspects of cutaneous and systemic mastocytosis!