Mast cell activation disease typically presents as chronic multisystem polymorbidity of generally inflammatory ± allergic theme. Presently, treatment of the rare, cytoproliferative variant
systemic mastocytosis employs empirically selected
therapies to impede mast cell mediator production and action and, when necessary, inhibition of proliferation. Some
tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been used successfully in uncommon cases of
systemic mastocytosis not bearing that disease's usual
imatinib-resistant KIT D816V mutation. Recently,
sunitinib, a multi-targeted TKI, had been successful in a case of systemic
mast cell activation syndrome. In addition, most
allergy is principally a mast cell activation phenomenon, and
sunitinib has been shown helpful in controlling a murine model of oral
allergy syndrome. Here, we present the first use of
sunitinib in
systemic mastocytosis.