ISSN 1866-8836
Клеточная терапия и трансплантация

Severe course of cutaneous mastocytosis in a child. Case report

Vsevolod G. Potapenko1, Sergey R. Talypov2

1 Municipal Clinical Hospital No. 31, St. Petersburg, Russia
2 D. Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russia


Correspondence:
Dr. Vsevolod G. Potapenko, PhD, Hematologist, Hematology Department, Municipal Clinical Hospital № 31, Pr. Dinamo, 3, 197110, St. Petersburg, Russia
Phone: +7 (905) 284-51-38
E-mail: potapenko.vsevolod@mail.ru


Citation: Potapenko VG, Talypov SR. Severe course of cutaneous mastocytosis in a child. Case report. Cell Ther Transplant 2022; 11(2): 58-62.

doi 10.18620/ctt-1866-8836-2022-11-2-58-62
Submitted 06 June 2022
Accepted 05 July 2022

Summary

Mastocytosis is a disease of the blood system with the accumulation of clonal mast cells in one or more organs. In children, the skin is most often affected. In most cases, the disease regresses spontaneously, regardless of severe clinical manifestations.

Case description

The disease was diagnosed after birth. Mastocytosis manifested with severe typical urticular and vesicular rash, daily hot flashes and itching. Skin infiltration with mast cells was confirmed by immunohistological examination of the skin. Symptomatic treatment was carried out with antihistamine drugs and short courses of glucocorticosteroids. The disease started to resolve since 4 months of age, with reduction of: hot flashes, abdominal pain, rash, and itching, thus decreasing the needs for drug therapy. At the age of 2 years 9 months, the child underwent radical surgery for osteoblastoma. Currently, moderate skin itching persists, the child develops according to his age, takes antihistamines only occasionally. Hence, this clinical observation demonstrates benign course of mastocytosis, even in severe cases.

Keywords

Мastocytosis, сase report, pigmented urticaria, tryptase, C-KIT, mast cells.


Introduction

Mastocytosis is a clonal disease of mast cells. The frequency reaches 1:10000 of the population [1]. In adults, mastocytosis most often proceeds for a long time and is benign, and in children, as a rule, it regresses within several years [1, 2].

Mast cells are normally resident in connective tissue and proliferate under the influence of stem cell growth factor. The activating signal is transmitted by the receptor tyrosine kinase KIT. Somatic mutation in the C-KIT proto-oncogene leads to hyperproduction of the activating KIT receptor molecule, which causes excessive proliferation of mast cells. Up to 86% of children with mastocytosis have a somatic mutation in the C-KIT gene [3]. In addition to mast cells, the proliferation of melanocytes also depends on the KIT pathway, thus most likely causing typical pigment rashes [4]. Despite proven clonal growth, the aggressive course of mastocytosis in children, unlike adults, is extremely rare [5].

In aggressive course of the disease, chemotherapeutic approaches are similar to the strategy in adults. The variant with C-KIT mutation is crucial: if the С-KIT D816V is not detected, imatinib is effective [6, 7]. When the C-KIT D816V is revealed, cladribine and interferon alpha are used as the main drugs showing similar efficacy reaching about 50% [8]. New tyrosine kinase inhibitors (avapritinib and midostaurin) are also effective [9, 10]. Currently, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is recognized as the only curative method of aggressive mastocytosis. Appropriate experience with children is limited, however, there are reports on curative effect of HSCT [11].

The most frequent symptoms of mastocytosis are caused by permanent or periodical degranulation, i.e., release of various cytokines and biologically active substances from cytoplasmic granules of the mastocytes. The intensity of degranulation determines the variety of complaints: from their absence to severe itching, bullous rash, anaphylactoid reactions, abdominal pain requiring daily pharmacotherapy [12]. The release of cytokines is provoked by certain medications, bathing, mood swings and other factors [13]. The main therapeutic actions are aimed at avoidance of provoking factors, reducing the degranulation reaction and neutralizing the effect of histamine release. Due to the fact that the prognosis for non-aggressive forms of mastocytosis is generally favorable, and the disease regresses spontaneously in most patients, the main goal of attending physician is to improve the quality of life and ensure psychological welfare of the child and parents before the disease resolves. In this respect, we present a clinical case of skin mastocytosis with later developing osteoblastoma in an infant.

Case report

Potapenko-fig01.jpg

Figure 1. Newborn baby with severe course of urticaria pigmentosa, a clinical feature of skin mastocytosis

Potapenko-fig02.jpg

Figure 2. Histamine crisis in a child with skin mastosytosis. Redness of the skin, vesicular eruptions at the nasolabial triangle, at the tip and back of the nose, in the suborbital areas, on the back of the hand and wrist

Potapenko-fig03.jpg

Figure 3. The patient is 10 years old. Residual manifestations of mastocytosis on the skin

The boy was born full-term, weight 3190, body length 51 cm, head circumference 33 cm. At birth, there was a polymorphic rash on the baby's skin, including the formation of blisters (Fig. 1). Urticaria pigmentosa was clinically diagnosed.

In addition to the typical skin changes, mastocytosis was manifested by constant severe itching with the need for daily intake of antihistamines. During the first two weeks after birth, histamine crises spontaneously occurred 1-2 times a day, which looked like sudden redness of the skin, short-term appearance of blisters, an increase in itching, screaming and extreme excitement, turning into a fainting state. The duration of the crisis varied from several minutes to an hour. With a strong attack, wheezing on inspiration was noted, once the attack was accompanied by a stop of breathing for 10-15 seconds.

Since early childhood, the child complained of episodic abdominal pain of a pulling-stabbing nature. The attack lasts 30-60 minutes, there is no convincing effects of drotaverine and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration. There were unmotivated weekly episodes of vomiting, with no stool сhanges. Evident causes of pain and vomiting were not revealed, endoscopic studies were not performed.

At the age of three months, the child was re-examined. We present the results of the survey. Histological analysis of the skin revealed changes typical of mastocytosis. A widespread proliferate was found, consisting mainly of cells with partially elongated fragmented nuclei expressing tryptase and CD117. No expression of Langerin, CD1a and S100 was detected. A mutation of the KIT D816V gene was detected in DNA from skin biopsy using PCR technique. The concentration of tryptase in the blood was 17.3 (normally, 11.4) µg/l. The dermatological diagnosis of urticaria pigmentosa has been confirmed. Additional analyses were performed to determine the aggressiveness and the degree of organ involvement. The concentration of hemoglobin, reticulocytes, the number of platelets, leukocytes with a leukocyte formula, the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation within the age norm. The blood clotting INR, prothrombin and thromboplastin time, concentration of potassium, sodium, urea, creatinine, uric acid, bilirubin, C-reactive protein, albumin, β-2 microglobulin, immunoglobulin E, fibrinogen, activity of alanine and asparate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and antithrombin III were within normal ranges. Histological and cytological analysis of the bone marrow revealed normal pattern, with only reactive changes. Ultrasound examination showed normal condition of abdominal organs. There were no signs of aggressive mastocytosis such as cytopenia, liver and bone impairment.

From birth, the child received cetirizine in maximum doses. In severe crises, dimethinden, betamethasone were added, and prednisone was administered once.

The parents reported that the main provoking factors were temperature changes, hot water, emotions, eating hot food, rubbing clothes, as well as acute infectious diseases. From four months of life, the frequency and severity of the crises decreased, from 6 months the vesicular rash disappeared, and from 12 months these crises ceased. However, skin itching with a marked decrease in the quality of life and the need for daily intake of antihistamines, as well as occasional intake of betamethasone, persisted for several years. The itching decreased after sunlight exposure during the summer time. At the age of two, the concentration of blood tryptase returned to normal. Since the age of three, hypersensitivity to changing air and water temperature has decreased.

At 2 years and 8 months, pain and impaired movement evolved in the left shoulder joint. А neoplasm was detected in the left humerus. According to histological and immunohistochemical analysis, osteoblastoma was diagnosed. After the month radical excision of the tumor within healthy tissues was performed. The operation proceeded without complications.

During the following years, abdominal complaints persisted but the rash decreased, with residual moderate skin itching requiring occasional administration of antihistamines. Focal pale hyperpigmentation of the skin is noted (see Fig. 3). Currently, the boy attends primary school.

Discussion

Mastocytosis is a poorly understood clonal disorder with a generally favorable prognosis. As in the presented case, mastocytosis most often appears in the first two years of life. The results of the analysis of a large group of children showed that in 23% of cases, the disease manifests immediately after birth [14]. Recent studies show that the childhood and adult mastocytosis is a clonal neoplasm by its origin. The C-KIT D816V mutation detected in the presented child is one of the most frequent. In the study of Bodemer C. it was found in 42% of children with mastocytosis [3]. The detection of the mutation in the presented child confirmed the diagnosis, since there was no need for chemotherapy.

The vast majority of children, despite the mast cell clonality, develop a complete or partial regression of the symptoms within the first years of life [2, 14]. In our experience, upon observation of 163 children with mastocytosis, the median time of clinical resolution was 34 (2-226) months [5]. The probability of regression increases with the onset of the disease in early childhood and does not depend on the severity of mastocytosis manifestations [5, 14, 15].

Due to high probability of spontaneous regression, parents and the attending physician should provide symptomatic treatment so that the child could tolerate the disease until its resolution. According to various studies, 29.5-64% of children with mastocytosis require pharmacological treatment [2, 16-18]. Most often, long-term use of H1 and H2 histamine blockers, as well as cromoline sodium, a stabilizer of mast cell membranes, is recommended to relieve the symptoms. Treatment with short courses of glucocorticosteroids is acceptable when the effect is not complete, [13, 19]. The therapy has been satisfactorily tolerated for many years, being quite safe, as shown by the present case and other observations [20]. A follow-up of 111 children with mastocytosis showed that the number of patients with severe course is less than 5%, while, in most cases, the disease either does not require regular treatment or is easily controlled by antihistamines [16]. In our clinical case, the antihistamine therapy proved to be insufficient, thus requiring usage of glucocorticosteroids. However, this severe course seems to be uncommon in mastocytosis.

Despite the severity of the complaints, there were no signs of aggressive mastocytosis in the child. Signs of aggressiveness include pronounced organomegaly, anemia, osteolytic syndrome and intestinal damage with weight loss. There were no indications for bone marrow analysis, however, both puncture and trephine biopsy were made and did not reveal specific infiltration [13]. In everyday practice, the severity of symptoms encourages doctors to conduct an in-depth examination of the patient, sometimes being excessive [5].

Osteoblastoma refers to rare bone tumor diseases with a favorable prognosis. According to the analysis of 99 patients, approximately half of them have a lesion of the vertebrae or humerus. Surgical treatment leads to recovery [21]. Localization of osteoblastoma, course, therapy and stable response to treatment of the humerus in the presented child, corresponded to the published data. According to the SEER register analysis (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results), where the results of observation in 421 patients with mastocytosis, including children, were analyzed, there was no increase in the number of secondary malignant diseases compared to the average population [22].

Conclusion

The presented clinical observation again confirms that, even in severe skin form of mastocytosis, the prognosis is favorable. The main efforts of attending doctor should be focused on improving the quality of life and emotional comfort of the child and his parents.

Conflict of interest

None declared.

References

  1. Brockow K. Epidemiology, prognosis, and risk factors in mastocytosis. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2014; 34(2): 283-295.
    doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2014.01.003
  2. Azaña JM, Torrelo A, Mediero IG, et al. Urticaria pigmentosa: a review of 67 pediatric cases. Pediatr Dermatol. 1994; 11(2): 102-106.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1470.1994.tb00560.x
  3. Bodemer C, Hermine O, Palmérini F, et al. Pediatric mastocytosis is a clonal disease associated with D816V and other activating c-KIT mutations. J Invest Dermatol. 2010;130(3):804-815. doi: 10.1038/jid.2009.281
  4. Kimura Y, Jones N, Klüppel M, et al. Targeted mutations of the juxtamembrane tyrosines in the Kit receptor tyrosine kinase selectively affect multiple cell lineages. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2004; 101: 6015-6020.
  5. Potapenko VG, Baikov VV, Boychenko EG, et al. Mastocytosis in children. A prospective study of 163 patients with remote parental surveys. Russian Journal of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (RZhDGiO). 2021; 8(2): 13-25. doi: 10.21682/2311-1267-2021-8-2-13-25
    (In Russian).
  6. Morren MA, Hoppé A, Renard M, et al. Imatinib mesylate in the treatment of diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis. J Pediatr. 2013; 162(1): 205-207. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.08.035
  7. Agarwala MK, George R, Mathews V, et al. Role of imatinib in the treatment of pediatric onset indolent systemic mastocytosis: a case report. J Dermatol Treat. 2013; 24(6): 481-483. doi: 10.3109/09546634.2013.802274
  8. Lim KH, Tefferi A, Lasho TL, et al. Systemic mastocytosis in 342 consecutive adults: survival studies and prognostic factors. Blood. 2009; 113(23): 5727-5736. doi: 10.1182/blood-2009-02-205237
  9. Gotlib J, Kluin-Nelemans HC, George TI, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Midostaurin in Advanced Systemic Mastocytosis. Reiter A N Engl J Med. 2016; 374(26): 2530-2541. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1513098
  10. DeAngelo DJ, Quiery AT, Radia D, et al. Clinical activity in a phase 1 study of Blu-285, a potent, highly-selective inhibitor of KIT D816V in advanced systemic mastocytosis (AdvSM). Blood. 2017; 130(Suppl 1): 2. doi: 10.1182/blood.V130.Suppl_1.2.2
  11. Srinivasan A, Ilonze CC, Travis SR, et al. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in systemic mastocytosis treated with allogeneic bone marrow transplant: A case report. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2020; 67(1): e28017. doi: 10.1002/pbc.28017
  12. Carter MC, Metcalfe DD. Paediatric mastocytosis. Arch Dis Child. 2002; 86(5): 315-319. doi: 10.1136/adc.86.5.315
  13. Heide R, Beishuizen A, De Groot H, et al. Mastocytosis in children: a protocol for management. Pediatr Dermatol. 2008; 25(4): 493‐500. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1470.2008.00738.x
  14. Méni C, Bruneau J, Georgin-Lavialle S. et al. Paediatric mastocytosis: a systematic review of 1747 cases. Br J Dermatol. 2015; 172(3): 642-651. doi: 10.1111/bjd.13567
  15. Caplan RM. The natural course of urticaria pigmentosa. Analysis and follow-up of 112 cases. Arch Dermatol. 1963; 87: 146-157.
  16. Potapenko VG, Skoryukova EV, Lisukova EG, et al. Mastocytosis in children. Clinical and laboratory characteristics of a group of 111 patients. Pediatrics. 2018; 97(4): 135-140. doi: 10.24110/0031-403X-2018-97-4-135-140 (In Russian).
  17. Kiszewski AE, Durán-Mckinster C, Orozco-Covarrubias L, et al. Cutaneous mastocytosis in children: a clinical analysis of 71 cases.
    J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2004; 18(3): 285‐290. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2004.00830.x
  18. Akoglu G, Erkin G, Cakir B, et al. Cutaneous mastocytosis: demographic aspects and clinical features of 55 patients. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2006; 20(8): 969‐973. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2006.01696.x
  19. Minutello K, Gupta V. Cromolyn Sodium. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020.
  20. Cardet JC, Akin C, Lee MJ. Mastocytosis: update on pharmacotherapy and future directions. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2013; 14(15): 2033-2045. doi: 10.1517/14656566.2013.824424
  21. Berry M, Mankin H, Gebhardt M, et al. Osteoblastoma: a 30-year study of 99 cases. J Surg Oncol. 2008; 98(3): 179-183.
    doi: 10.1002/jso.21105
  22. Shivarov V, Gueorguieva R, Ivanova M, et al. Incidence of second solid cancers in mastocytosis patients: a SEER database analysis. Leuk Lymphoma. 2018; 59(6): 1474-1477. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2017.1382694

Volume 11, Number 2
06/30/2022

Download PDF version

doi 10.18620/ctt-1866-8836-2022-11-2-58-62
Submitted 06 June 2022
Accepted 05 July 2022

Back to the list