Hodgkin's lymphoma is a rare form of clonal haematological non-mast cell disease in systemic mastocytosis

Practical management of adverse events in patients with advanced systemic mastocytosis receiving midostaurin

INTRODUCTION

Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is characterized by the overproduction and accumulation of neoplastic mast cells (MCs) in the bone marrow, skin, and visceral organs. The KIT D816V mutation is found in approximately 90% of cases. In advanced SM (advSM), inferior survival often relates to MC-induced organ damage that may impact multiple organ systems. In addition, mediator symptoms related to MC activation can severely impact the quality of life. The oral multikinase/KIT inhibitor midostaurin was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency as monotherapy for advSM based on data from phase 2 clinical studies.

AREAS COVERED

This review discusses the management of common adverse events (AEs) in patients with advSM who participated in phase 2 clinical studies that led to the approval of midostaurin.

EXPERT OPINION

In the advSM population undergoing treatment with midostaurin, treatment-related AEs are often difficult to distinguish from disease-related symptoms, which can lead to premature discontinuation and improper dose reduction of midostaurin therapy in patients who might have benefitted from continued therapy. Here we present strategies to help optimize AE management and maximize the potential benefits of midostaurin in advSM.

Systemic mastocytosis associated with Hodgkin's lymphoma in a 4-year-old child

Systemic mastocytosis with associated clonal hematologic non-mast cell lineage disease (SM-AHN) represents a specific subtype of mastocytosis and is extremely rare in children. We describe a 4-year-old child with systemic mastocytosis associated with Hodgkin's lymphoma. The child had cutaneous mastocytosis and lymphadenopathy without other clinical features of SM, which was diagnosed only by bone marrow examination.