What Are Mast Cells?
Mast cells are a form of a white blood cells produced by the bone marrows. One of their major functions is to release histamine and other chemicals to fight infection. These chemicals can also have some common allergic symptoms such as excess mucus, itchiness and swelling.
Mastocytosis can be classified into two types:
- Cutaneous mastocytosis: This occurs when large amount of mast cells accumulates in the skin but not in other areas of the body. It is commonly seen in children.
- Systemic mastocytosis: This occurs when mast cells accumulate in tissues such as skin, organs and bones. Mast cells leukemia falls in this class.