[recluse1]

has anyone ever heard of this or know where i can find any info on it? my husband was just diagnosed with it today and i cant find any real information about it online. any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

recluse1

[sabby]

You may have already seen this, but in case you hadn't here it is....

Mastocyctic Enerocolitis

I wish you both well and I hope you can find more info on this problem. Good Luck!

Hugsss
sabby

((( 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

[bebop]

http://arpa.allenpress.com/arpaonlin...C%5D2.0.CO%3B2

Off topic for a second.

(Thanks Be, for saving my butt. I forgot I quoted from that site and I didn't put the link down as a reference.)

[recluse1]

((((((((((((hugs everyone))))))))))))) your help is most appreciated by both my husband and myself. you were able to give us more info than we actually receivd from the GI doctor, so again thank you so much for all that you have done. understanding is key in situations like this and we feel we have a better understanding of what we are dealing with now.

thanks so much
recluse1 and hubby