The Diagnosis of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) Presented by David Saperstein, MD.

In this resource, Dr. David Saperstein discusses the challenges associated with diagnosing Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), a condition that frequently occurs in patients with EDS, POTS, or Dysautonomia. He explains that MCAS diagnosis is complicated by the fact that blood and urine tests for mast cell mediators like tryptase and histamine are often normal and require specific handling to be accurate. Despite these challenges, new diagnostic criteria are being developed in collaboration with experts, including Dr. Lawrence Afrin, to improve detection. Diagnosis occasionally relies on clinical symptoms when test results are inconclusive. The resource also highlights that gastrointestinal biopsies can sometimes reveal increased mast cells, aiding in diagnosis.