Molly- Skin Biopsy

[Guest guest]

Hi Molly,

I read in the Merck Manual that in mastocytosis the

histamine content of tissue biopsies can be extremly

high, commensurate with the elevated mast cell

concentration. If you are having a biopsy done

anyway, why not ask them to check that too! It could

prove to be an indicator of mastocytosis, or it could

help rule it out. Just a thought.

The Merck also mentions the urine histamine test and

that in sysytemic masto the histamine level would be

high in the urine sample.

is probably a good person to check with, Alena

has had several biopsies and she is well informed on

that subject.

Hugs,

Joan

--- lightscap@... wrote:

> Joan (and others):

>

> It's Molly here. First let me say that I am sorry I

> just post with so many

> questions and I am not contributing very much to the

> group. It is only

> recently that I finally got on (hopefully) the right

> track pursuing my

> problem from an immunology perspective rather than

> just accepting the

> " fibro/neuropathic " diagnosis and given pain pills

> by doctors on

> " auto-pilot " . Here goes some more questions I have

> if you don't mind me

> " picking your brains " :

>

> 1. Joan, you asked me if the doc was going to do any

> checking for histamine

> levels when I get a skin biopsy. I don't know,

> because I was unaware this

> test was done during a biopsy, but if this is

> something that should be done I

> will request it for sure. I only had a 24 hour

> urine histamine test, which

> came back " normal " . I asked one of the

> dermatologists about a serum

> histamine test and he " poo pooed " this and said they

> are not accurate. Can

> you (or anyone) elaborate on the histamine test you

> are referring to in terms

> of part of a skin biopsy? I am unaware of this one

> and would like to know

> more. It sounds like there are many different types

> of histamine tests.

>

> 2. I am asking for a immunoflourescent staining and

> to check for " complement " .

>

> 3. I was wondering if I should request a deep tissue

> punch biopsy rather than

> just a skin scraping since my burning tissues seem

> to come from deep inside

> the tissues. (The hives that come out on top of my

> skin *only* appear after

> the particularly stingy spots are pressed with my

> fingertips.)

>

> 4. I am not too far from s Hopkins in

> Baltimore, MD. Anyone know (and

> like) any specialists there?

> Thank you again for any help. It sounds like so

> many of you have been

> through so much and it is so comforting and helpful

> when you share. I spent

> many months spinning wheels, but I promise, anything

> I can contribute when I

> find out more info (also awaiting parasitology test

> and intracellular

> magnesium test) I will glady post -- you never know

> when one little sentence

> posted by another person can be a " lightbulb " for

> someone else. Regards,

> Molly

>

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