Covid-19 hyperinflammation and post-Covid-19 illness may be rooted in mast cell activation syndrome.

This paper explores the potential link between Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and severe manifestations of Covid-19. The authors suggest that MCAS, a chronic disorder characterized by inflammatory responses due to activated mast cells, might predispose individuals to severe acute Covid-19 and subsequent chronic conditions. They observe a similarity in prevalence between MCAS and severe Covid-19 cases. The study also notes that drugs targeting mast cells have shown promise in treating Covid-19, and none of their MCAS patients contracted severe Covid-19. The authors propose that the cytokine storms seen in Covid-19 may result from dysfunctional mast cells, not from the normal functioning ones, highlighting important potential treatment and prognosis implications.