The Possible Role of Mast Cells (Allergy) in the Production of Keloid and Hypertrophic Scarring

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Abstract
The mast cell products histamine and heparin may play an important role in initiating a series of biochemical events leading to hypertrophic scarring and keloid development. Elevated histamine levels may enhance the rate of collagen synthesis while high heparin levels increase the degree of vascularization in a, developing keloid. The incidence of keloids for race, gender, and age can be positively correlated with serum IgE levels. This may implicate mast cell hypersensitivity in keloid development. The hypothesis that IgE-mediated mast cell hypersensitivity may be an important factor in the development of keloids and hypertrophic scars was tested by surveying 1206 adolescents for the coincidence of keloids or hypertrophic scars with a wide variety of allergic symptoms. A statistically significant increase in the incidence of allergic symptoms was found for both keloid formers and hypertrophic scar formers compared to normal respondents. Keloid formers showed the highest incidence of allergic symptoms. Therefore, the IgE-mediated release of the mast cell products histamine and heparin may play a role in the development of keloids and hypertrophic scars.

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