Specialists in the Mastocytosis Center have developed advanced approaches for evaluating and treating mast cell disease, including state-of-the-art techniques to accurately diagnose the disease.

The Mastocytosis Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) is one of few programs in the country to specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with mast cell disorders, including systemic mastocytosis and mast cell activation syndrome.

Matthew J. Hamilton, MD, a gastroenterologist in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endoscopy at BWH, leads the gastroenterology specialty care for patients seen at the Mastocytosis Center, which was founded by gastroenterologist, Norton J. Greenberger, MD.

“To incorporate innovative approaches designed to ensure accurate diagnoses, we work in close collaboration with allergists, immunologists, and pathologists across the hospital. We also conduct clinical trials for patients with mastocytosis in partnership with the Hematologic Oncology Treatment Center at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center,” says Dr. Hamilton.

Dr. Hamilton is a nationally recognized expert in the gastrointestinal manifestations of mast cell disorders and has helped to characterize clinical aspects of mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), including treatments specific to the gastrointestinal tract. He has extensive experience with endoscopy on patients with mast cell disorders and he and his colleagues have published intestinal biopsy findings that serve to assist pathologists and endoscopists with their assessment of mast cells in the tissue.

Dr. Hamilton also leads a clinical and translational research team that is focused on identifying ways to further characterize subtypes of patients with MCAS.

“We have the country’s largest database of MCAS patients and biologic specimens from which to pull clinical information needed for studies,” says Dr. Hamilton.

Dr. Hamilton and other investigators at BWH are currently looking to identify profiles of mast cells that may exist in the intestinal tissue that characterize subtypes of disease and may assist in personalized therapies.

Indications for Referral  

Specialists in The Mastocytosis Center provide evaluation and care for patients with suspected or confirmed mast cell disease, including patients with:

• Established diagnosis of cutaneous or systemic mastocytosis;
• Unexplained recurrent anaphylaxis;
• Elevated levels of tryptase, histamine or prostaglandins levels;
• Patients with signs and symptoms of mast cell activation including flushing, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.