Schnitzler syndrome

PubMed, the Internet portal of biomedical and life sciences literature, indexed an interesting article, entitled “Schnitzler syndrome: Treatment failure to rituximab but response to anakinra.” (J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007 Apr 27). Authors are Eiling E, Moller M, Kreiselmaier I, et al., from the From the Department of Dermatology, University of Kiel. Schnitzler syndrome is a rare disease characterized by a chronic urticarial rash and a monoclonal gammopathy. The exact pathogenesis is still uncertain and treatment remains a challenge. The authors report a patient who was only recently given the diagnosis of Schnitzler syndrome although the typical symptoms had been present for about 6 years. Administration of the B-cell antibody rituximab did not exert any beneficial effect despite effective elimination of B cells and a reduction of the paraprotein. In contrast, injection of the interleukin-1-receptor antagonist anakinra caused a complete remission within a few days. To access the abstract of the article, click here.