2023 Mast Cell Disorders, Inflammation, and Fatigue - Dr. Anne Maitland

Dr. Anne Maitland discusses the role of mast cell activation disorders (MCAD) in contributing to chronic fatigue among patients with hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). She emphasizes the importance of identifying persistent inflammation due to MCAD, which can exacerbate fatigue by depleting resources like nutrition and sleep. The presentation underscores the need to differentiate MCAD from conditions like POTS and highlights the complexity of mast cell disorders, noting that they don't always involve histamine release. Proper diagnosis requires validated questionnaires and testing, considering a variety of misbehaving mast cell triggers. This approach can streamline care, help avoid unnecessary medications, and prevent delays in effective treatment for fatigue in EDS and HSD patients.