MCAS
Diagnosis of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome – A Global Consensus 2
Dr. Bruce Hoffman
March 4, 2024

Please take a look at this newly published peer-reviewed article by Dr. Lawrence Afrin of which I was a co-author, on the revised criteria for the diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS):

Diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome: a global “consensus-2”

One of the most common difficulties patients seem to face after they have been to our clinic and given a diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome is when they return to their GP’s or specialists with a description of this syndrome. Traditional medicine is well-schooled in the diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis, a condition characterized by an increased number of mast cells as opposed to MCAS which is a diagnosis arrived at due to the increased activity of mast cells (and not an increase in the actual numbers).

Systemic mastocytosis is most often diagnosed by using a biomarker called tryptase, whereas the diagnosis of MCAS has much broader diagnostic criteria as this article will outline.

For a much more in-depth description of MCAS, please see my treatment page and the following articles:

  1. Treating Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
  2. Mast Cell Activation Syndrome: When You Immune System Runs Rampant
  3. Natural Treatments For Mast Cell Activation Syndrome
  4. Your Ultimate Guide to the Low-Histamine Diet
Dr. Bruce Hoffman

Dr. Bruce Hoffman, MSc, MBChB, FAARM, IFMCP is a Calgary-based Integrative and Functional medicine practitioner. He is the medical director at the Hoffman Centre for Integrative Medicine and The Brain Centre of Alberta specializing in complex medical conditions.

He was born in South Africa and obtained his medical degree from the University of Cape Town. He is a certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (IFM), is board certified with a fellowship in anti-aging (hormones) and regenerative medicine (A4M), a certified Shoemaker Mold Treatment Protocol Practitioner (CIRS) and ILADS trained in the treatment of Lyme disease and co-infections.

He is the co-author of a recent paper published by Dr. Afrin’s group: Diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome: a global “consensus-2”. Read more about Dr. Bruce Hoffman.