Urticaria pigmentosa is a cutaneous variant of mastocytosis. This is a
complex group of diseases distinguished by abnormal aggregation of ma
st cells within the skin and other organs. Mast cell degranulation and
subsequent release of vasoactive amines may occur in response to a va
riety of non-immune triggers leading to, as its most severe manifestat
ion, a clinical picture of anaphylactic shock. We present the anaesthe
tic management during labour of a patient with, urticaria pigmentosa.