Study of mastocytes in 1298 bone biopsies. Relationship between mastocytes and osteoporosis
Grardel, B.; Flautre, B.; Sutter, B.; Duriez, J.; Hardouin, P.
Revue du Rhumatisme et des Maladies Osteo-Articulaires 58(11): 759-761
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-2659 PMID: 1780650 Document Number: 378240
The relationship between the bone damage in systemic mastocytosis and reactional mastocytosis is still poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of excessive mastocytes in a series of bone biopsies and their significance in cases of osteoporosis. The mastocytes were routinely counted in 1,298 successive biopsies stained with May Grumwald Giemsa: 131 biopsies had more than 5 mastocytes/mm2, i.e., 10% of all samples for all diagnoses combined. In 11 patients (13 bone biopsies) with a large excess of mastocytes (more than 15/mm2) and osteoporosis, the biopsies were examined again to look for mastocytic nodules suggesting bone mastocytosis: mastocytic nodules of this type were found in only 4 cases. The mastocyte is an active cell which may play a role in bone metabolism through the intermediary of its mediators. In osteoporosis, the incidence and significance of excessive mastocytes is not yet understood; this excess of mastocytes appears to correspond to reactive mastocytosis rather than systemic mastocytosis.