Tryptase: An important tool in the assessment of severe allergic disease

+Practice

In print

From the lab

Tryptase: An important tool in the assessment of severe allergic disease

31 January 2024

By Anthea Anantharajah

Wednesday 31 January 2024, 12:30 AM

The patient’s serum tryptase level was elevated immediately following a bee sting and remained elevated one week later [Image: Aaron Burden on Unsplash]

Measurement of mast cell tryptase is a vital yet underused tool in the assessment of severe allergic and mast cell disorders. This article summarises the causes of elevated serum tryptase, indications for testing and interpretation of results

Key points, Tryptase measurement is an important tool in the diagnosis of anaphylaxis and mast cell disorders. Tryptase levels can help determine the severity o, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

Investigations

Immunology

References

1. Sala-Cunill A, Cardona V, Labrador-Horrillo M, et al. Usefulness and limitations of sequential serum tryptase for the diagnosis of anaphylaxis in 102 patients. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2013;160(2):192–99.

2. Chollet MB, Akin C. Hereditary alpha tryptasemia is not associated with specific clinical phenotypes. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2022;149(2):728–35.e2.

3. Lee AYS. Elevated serum tryptase in non-anaphylaxis cases: A concise review. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2020;181(5):357–64.

4. Gulen T, Akin C, Bonadonna P, et al. Selecting the right criteria and proper classification to diagnose mast cell activation syndromes: A critical review. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2021;9(11):3918–28.

How to Treat

+How to treat

Thyroid nodules

Otolaryngologist, head and neck surgeon Francis T. Hall discusses the evaluation of thyroid nodules, which primarily aims to determine the likelihood of malignancy. He then reviews the treatment of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer, including recent advances in management

Wednesday 30 April 2025, 12:50 AM