Summary
A 45-year-old patient is described presenting with severe axial osteoporosis. The presence of maculopapular skin lesions and the combination of osteolytic and osteoblastic bone lesions led to the tentative diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis. This diagnosis was confirmed by measurement of urinary histamine metabolites and by bone biopsy showing increased numbers of mast cells and fibroblast-like cells. The importance of these diagnostic procedures in this rare cause of osteoporosis is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Webb, T.A., Li, C.Y., Yam, L.T. Systemic mast cell disease: a clinical and haematopathological study of 26 cases, Cancer, 1982, 49, 927–938.
Lewis, R.A. Mastocytosis, J Allergy Clin Immunol, 1984, 74, 755–765.
Poppel, M.H., Gruber, W.F., Silber, R. The roentgen manifestations of urticaria pigmentosa (mastocytosis), Am J Radiol 1959, 82, 239–249.
Fallon, M.D., Whyte, M.P., Teitelbaum, S.L. Systemic mastocytosis associated with generalized osteopenia, Human Pathol, 1981, 12, 813–820.
Keyzer, J.J., de Monchy, J.G.R., van Doormaal, J.J., van Voorst Vader, P.C. Improved diagnosis of mastocytosis by measurement of urinary histamine metabolites, N Engl N Med, 1983, 309, 1603–1605.
te Velde, J., Vismans F.J.F.E., Leenheers-Binnendijk, L., Vos, C.J., Smeenk, D., Bijvoet, O.L.M.. The eosinophilic fibrohistiocytic lesion of the bone marrow, Virchows Arch A Path Anat Histol, 1978, 377, 277–285.
Travis, W.D., Li, C.Y., Su, W.P.D. Adult-onset urticaria pigmentosa and systemic mast cell disease, Am J Clin Pathol, 1985, 84, 710–714.
McKenna, M.J., Frame, B. The mast cell and bone, Clin Orthop, 1985, 200, 226–233.
Frame, B., Nixon, R.K. Bone-marrow mast cells in osteoporosis of aging, N Engl J Med, 1968, 279, 626–630.
Ridell, B., Olafsson, J.H., Roupe, G., Swolin, B., Granerus, G., Rodjer, S., Enerback, L. The bone marrow in urticaria pigmentosa and systemic mastocytosis, Arch Dermatol, 1986, 422–427.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schoenaers, P., de Clerck, L.S., Timmermans, U. et al. Systemic mastocytosis, an unusual cause of osteoporosis. Clin Rheumatol 6, 458–462 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02206850
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02206850