Chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an acquired hematologic condition that involves immune-mediated platelet destruction with resultant bleeding of variable severity. Refractory ITP occurs when patients fail to tolerate and/or respond to multiple treatment modalities. In this case, we examine the clinical course of a 39-year-old female with refractory ITP and discuss how we navigated a multitude of challenges by adapting an established desensitization protocol to meet our patient's needs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFElevated basal serum tryptase (BST) levels are markers of both mast cell activation and overall mast cell burden. We present a family of four individuals with elevated tryptase levels greater than or equal to 20 mcg/L, all of whom exhibited signs and symptoms suggestive of mast cell activation. Differential diagnoses included hereditary alpha tryptasemia (HaT), systemic mastocytosis (SM), and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDF