((( recluse1 )))
I tried to break it down for you and was able to find some info. It's a rare disease, that's why not too much info is available. A "rare disease" means it doesn't effect enough people, therefore less funding is available for research on causes and cures etc.
Mastocytic enterocolitis: increased mucosal mast cells in chronic intractable diarrhea.
The increase in mast cells is not associated with systemic or cutaneous mastocytosis.
Most patients with this condition respond to drugs affecting mast cell mediator function and release such as histamine H1 and H2 receptor antagonists and granule membrane stabilizing agents.
An increase in enterocolonic mucosal mast cells is postulated to be a reactive and gut-specific phenomenon resulting from unknown stimuli. (This (mast cell proliferation) seems to be what sets it apart from IBS etc)
Chronic intractable diarrhea (liquid/loose stools for more than 4 weeks)
Symptoms usually controlled by drugs affecting mast cell mediator function and release (Archives 2006;130:362)
A diagnosis of exclusion
Note: only one major study about this disorder
Micro: defined as more than 20 mast cells per high power field and no other significant histologic findings
DD: ulcerative colitis with mast cells
Mastocytosis
A proliferation of mast cells which are located in connective tissue, including the skin, the linings of the stomach and intestine, and other sites.
They play an important role in helping defend these tissues from disease. By releasing chemical "alarms" such as histamine, mast cells attract other key players of the immune defense system to areas of the body where they are needed.
Mast cells seem to have other roles as well. Because they gather together around wounds, mast cells may play a part in wound healing. For example, the typical itching felt around a healing scab may be caused by histamine released by mast cells.
Researchers also think mast cells may have a role in the growth of blood vessels (angiogenesis).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastocytosis
Enterocolitis
Enterocolitis (or "coloenteritis") is an inflammation of both the small and large intestine. However, most conditions are categorized as one or the other of the following:
Enteritis is the inflammation of the small intestine
Colitis is inflammation of the large intestine, especially the colon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterocolitis