Symptoms of mast cell activation syndrome in functional gastrointestinal disorders

Abstract

Objectives: Mast cell involvement is evident in functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). FGID and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) are associated with multi-organ symptoms. An overlap has not been assessed.

Methods: MCAS symptoms were determined by questionnaires in 2083 FGID patients.

Results: The median number of MCAS symptoms (IQR] (range 0–16)) was 6 4–8] in all FGID, and in functional dyspepsia (FD) patients, 7 5–9] in overlapping irritable bowel syndrome and FD (IBS+FD), 5 3–8] in IBS and 5 3–6] in non-IBS/non-FD (p?<?.001 vs. FD and IBS?+?FD) patients. MCAS symptoms in ≥2 organ-systems existed in 1773 (85%) of all patients.

Conclusions: MCAS symptoms are common in FGID warranting further mechanistic investigation.