Hymenoptera anaphylaxis and mast cell activation disorders.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Among patients with hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA), a high proportion have an underlying systemic mastocytosis. It is essential to identify them for an adequate management.

RECENT FINDINGS: The clinical presentation of anaphylaxis after stinging -cardiovascular symptoms and absence of cutaneous- may point to a clonal mast cell disease (MCD). In addition, these patients usually have low mast cell burden, so highly sensitive techniques are needed to detect clonality.

SUMMARY: It is important to recognize patients with HVA associated with a clonal MCD since the handling of immunotherapy and the duration of such treatment differs from the general population. Identifying these patients with predictive scores and providing the appropriate techniques to reach the diagnosis may avoid unnecessary studies. Moreover, patients with clonal MCDs, in addition to typical mast cell-mediator release symptomatology may have other complications, such as bone mass loss, that need to be treated.