URTICARIA-PIGMENTOSA - A REVIEW OF 67 PEDIATRIC CASES

Mastocytosis is a disorder of mast cell proliferation that may appear during infancy, childhood, or adulthood. We studied 67 consecutive pat ients (33 males, 34 females) with urticaria pigmentosa and assessed th em fully to determine the presence of systemic involvement. Ages at on set of lesions ranged from birth to 11 years, with most developing in the first year of life. Pruritus was the primary symptom. Hematologic and serum chemistry profile, radiologic skeletal surveys, and bone mar row aspirations were performed. Slight anemia was present in three pat ients. Radiologic bone lesions were observed in eight. Bone marrow asp irates showed slight changes in six patients, with only an increased n umber of mast cells in an additional patient. The disease tended to re solve spontaneously. This prospective study emphasizes the benign natu re of pediatric urticaria pigmentosa.