Hereditary Alpha Tryptasemia in a Child With Idiopathic Anaphylaxis

ElsevierVolume 13, Issue 10, October 2025, Page 2871The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In PracticeAuthor links open overlay panel, Section snippetsPractice Challenge

Children with persistently elevated baseline serum tryptase and symptoms of mast cell activation are often subjected to extensive, invasive evaluations for mast cell disorders such as systemic mastocytosis or mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). When acute tryptase levels do not show significant elevation during episodes, confirming a diagnosis becomes even more difficult and often inconclusive.

Practice Solution

Early TPSAB1 copy number variation (CNV) testing should be considered in pediatric patients with elevated baseline tryptase levels to evaluate for hereditary alpha tryptasemia (HαT). HαT is an autosomal dominant genetic trait caused by extra copies of the TPSAB1 gene found in 4% to 6% of the population, leading to elevated basal tryptase and increased mast cell reactivity.1,2 Symptoms can manifest as cutaneous, gastrointestinal, atopic, musculoskeletal, autonomic, and neuropsychiatric.1 These

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