Background: Serum tryptase measurements are increasingly being used in clinical practice. However, there is a paucity of studies focused on factors that influence tryptase concentrations. We investigated the relationships between total tryptase concentrations and age, gender, atopy, alcohol consumption, smoking, and common metabolic abnormalities in adults.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of a random sample from an adult population (n=420, age 18-92 years, 45% males) from a single municipality. Serum total tryptase was measured using a fluoro-enzyme immunoassay.
Results: The median tryptase concentration was 5.1 microg/L (range, <1-30.7 microg/L). There was a significant (p<0.0001) continual increase in tryptase with age; the median concentrations were 4.0 microg/L in 18-30 years old and 6.6 microg/L in those >80 years. Female gender and heavy ethanol use were negatively and independently associated with tryptase concentrations. Tryptase was higher in individuals that were non-atopic, overweight, or had metabolic syndrome compared to individuals that were atopic, normal weight, or did not have the metabolic syndrome. However, these associations were attenuated after adjusting for age.
Conclusions: Serum total tryptase concentrations in adults are not significantly modified by atopy status, but may be modified by lifestyle factors, such as alcohol consumption and gender. Serum total tryptase concentrations are particularly dependent on age.