Mast cell stabilizer

Mast cell stabilizers are medications used to prevent or treat certain allergic disorders. They block mast cell degranulation, stabilizing the cell and thereby preventing the release of histamine and related mediators. One suspected pharmacodynamic mechanism is the blocking of IgE-regulated calcium channels. Without intracellular calcium, the histamine vesicles cannot fuse to the cell membrane and degranulate.[1]

As inhalers they are used to treat asthma, as nasal sprays to treat hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and as eye drops for allergic conjunctivitis.[2] Finally, in oral form, they are used to treat the rare condition of mastocytosis.[3][4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference pmid23441583 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Castillo M, Scott NW, Mustafa MZ, Mustafa MS, Azuara-Blanco A (2015). "Topical antihistamines and mast cell stabilisers for treating seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis". Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 (6): CD009566. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009566.pub2. hdl:2164/6048. PMC 10616535. PMID 26028608.
  3. ^ Castells M, Butterfield J (April 2019). "Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Mastocytosis: Initial Treatment Options and Long-Term Management". J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 7 (4): 1097–1106. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2019.02.002. PMID 30961835.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Chadwig2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).