Dr. Lawrence B. Afrin, MD, Immunology and Allergy: Mast Cell 101

Dr. Lawrence B. Afrin's talk, "Mast Cell 101," provides an overview of mast cell biology with a focus on mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), a condition often misdiagnosed due to its diverse symptoms. Afrin discusses the traditional understanding of mast cell disorders, such as allergies and mastocytosis, and introduces MCAS as a condition characterized by inappropriate activation of mast cells without the proliferation seen in mastocytosis. He shares case studies illustrating the varied presentations of MCAS and highlights the complexity of diagnosing and treating the syndrome, given its myriad symptoms and triggers. The talk emphasizes the need for further research to better understand MCAS, its potential link to connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and more effective diagnostic criteria and treatments.