Serum tryptase level test was recently introduced in Lithuania. In healthy indi vid u als tryptase con cen tra tion ranges between 1-15 ^g/l. Elevated tryptase level may be anaphylaxis, mastocytosis or hematologic disease marker. Elevated tryptase level suggests that either activated mast cells (labrocytes/mastocytes) release mature tryptase or there is an increase in mast cells count. Repeatedly tryptase level tests show whether increased tryptase level returns to baseline or remains high. Thus it shows the trigger that provoked tryptase level increase: anaphylaxis (tryptase level returns to baseline) or mastocytosis (tryptase level remains high). Monitoring tryp- tase levels in anaphylactic reactions can identify the risk of such reactions in the future (such as insect bites, surgical procedures or anesthesia). Mastocytosis is a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by growth and accumulation of neoplastic mast cells. An increased serum tryptase level is one of the criteria for diagnosing mastocytosis, which is a rare disease with a complicated diagnostic process. This test has been carried out on 31 patient, two of them were diagnosed with systemic mastocytosis. More frequent use of serum tryptase test in clinical practice could help identify, diagnose and monitor such a disease as mastocytosis and enable more eftective risk assess - ment of anaphylactic reactions.
Keywords: tryptase, anaphylaxis, mastocytosis.
