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We are on our summer break and the editorial office is closed until 13 January. In the meantime, please enjoy our Summer Hiatus series, in which our journalists curate an eclectic mix from our news and clinical archives throughout the year, The Conversation and other publications we share content with. Please note the comment function has been turned off while we are away. Happy reading!
This article was first published online on 31 January.
Measurement of mast cell tryptase is a vital yet underused tool in the assessment of severe allergic and mast cell disorders. This article summarises the causes of elevated serum tryptase, indications for testing and interpretation of results
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1. Sala-Cunill A, Cardona V, Labrador-Horrillo M, et al. Usefulness and limitations of sequential serum tryptase for the diagnosis of anaphylaxis in 102 patients. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2013;160(2):192–99.
2. Chollet MB, Akin C. Hereditary alpha tryptasemia is not associated with specific clinical phenotypes. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2022;149(2):728–35.e2.
3. Lee AYS. Elevated serum tryptase in non-anaphylaxis cases: A concise review. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2020;181(5):357–64.
4. Gulen T, Akin C, Bonadonna P, et al. Selecting the right criteria and proper classification to diagnose mast cell activation syndromes: A critical review. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2021;9(11):3918–28.
Respiratory physician Lutz Beckert considers chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management, including the prevention of COPD, the importance of smoking cessation and pulmonary rehabilitation, and the lifesaving potential of addressing treatable traits. He also discusses the logic of inhaler therapy, moving from single therapy to dual and triple therapy when indicated, as well as other aspects of management
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