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Schnitzler syndrome

Author: Dr Paul Jarrett, Dermatologist, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand, 2009.


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What is Schnitzler syndrome?

Schnitzler syndrome is the association of:

Schnitzler syndrome is rare. It was named after a French dermatologist, Dr Liliane Schnitzler, who described the condition in 1972.

What causes Schnitzler syndrome?

The cause of Schnitzler syndrome is unknown. Alterations in the cytokine network have been reported. Interleukin 1 alpha binding activity has been described in some patients with Schnitzler syndrome. Interleukin 1 alpha is a cytokine or inflammatory mediator and could explain some of the inflammatory symptoms of the syndrome. A few patients have been described with a mutation in the gene NLRP3.

Patients with Schnitzler syndrome may present to dermatologists, haematologists, rheumatologists and general physicians because of the variety of possible symptoms. The diagnosis is often delayed.

Clinical features of Schnitzler syndrome

Urticaria

Urticaria (hives) describes red raised patches of skin. These are rarely itchy in Schnitzler syndrome, unlike ordinary urticaria. Weals may last longer than ordinary urticaria, often persisting for 12 hours to 3 days. A skin biopsy may or may not show features of urticarial vasculitis. Angioedema (deep swelling) may also occur in some patients.

Skin biopsy may show a neutrophil-rich infiltrate.

Schnitzler Syndrome

Arthritis / arthralgia

Painful joints (arthralgia) or swollen joints (arthritis) occur in 80% of patients. Some patients experience bone pain.

Fever

Intermittent fever up to 40C affects 90% of patients with Schnitzler syndrome. The fever may be accompanied by chills and night sweating.

Organomegaly

Organomegaly refers to enlarged internal organs, i.e., large lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) in 40% of patients, and enlarged liver and spleen (hepatosplenomagaly) in 30%.

Haematological abnormalities

The main haematological (blood) abnormality of Schnitzler syndrome is monoclonal gammopathy. This usually means a raised level of immunoglobulin M (IgM) but raised immunoglobulin G (IgG) or combinations of IgM and IgA or IgM and IgG have also been reported. Bone marrow tests are normal in 80% at the time of diagnosis.

Other haematological abnormalities in Schnitzler syndrome may include:

  • Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
  • Lowered complement levels (C4)
  • Anaemia of chronic disease
  • Thrombocytosis (raised platelet count)
  • Neutrophilic leucocytosis (raised neutrophil white blood cells)

Prognosis of Schnitzler syndrome

Schnitzler syndrome is a chronic condition, and it has not been reported to resolve. Although symptoms can be a nuisance, the condition does not lead to serious disease in the majority of patients. However about 15% of patients progress to a lymphoproliferative disorder such as Waldenström macroglobulinemia or B-cell lymphoma. In Schnitzler's original case the patient died aged 88 years with diffuse “lymphoplasmacytic malignancy” after 20 years of follow up.

Long term review by a specialist is recommended.

What is the treatment for Schnitzler syndrome?

Anakinra

Anakinra is an effective treatment for Schnitzler syndrome. It is an interleukin 1 antagonist, registered to treat rheumatoid arthritis (not yet subsidised for autoinflammatory diseases in New Zealand [2015]). In Schnitzler syndrome, anakinra 100 mg/day allows a complete control of all symptoms including:

  • chronic urticarial rash with a monoclonal IgM component
  • intermittent fever
  • arthralgia or arthritis
  • bone pain
  • lymphadenopathy
  • leukocytosis
  • elevated ESR
  • spleen or liver enlargement

Complete remissions have been reported in at least 10 patients with anakinra at a daily subcutaneous dose of 100 mg. Some patients have experienced a recurrence of signs and symptoms within 1 day of stopping treatment; anakinra must be given on a continuous basis. Localised painful erythematous injection site reactions may occur.

Other IL-1 antagonists are under investigation for the treatment of Schnitzler syndrome, including rilonacept and canakinumab. IL-6 anatoganists have been tried for non-responders to IL-1 responders.

Other treatments for Schnitzler syndrome

The following treatments have also been tried for Schnitzler syndrome with varying success:

Schnitzler syndrome is a chronic disease so discontinuing an effective treatment can be expected to lead to relapse of the disease.

 

Bibliography

  • de Koning HD. Bodar EJ. van der Meer JW. Simon A. Schnitzler Syndrome Study Group. Schnitzler syndrome: beyond the case reports: review and follow-up of 94 patients with an emphasis on prognosis and treatment. [Review] Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 37(3):137–48, 2007 Dec. PubMed
  • Almerigogna F. Giudizi MG. Cappelli F. Romagnani S. Schnitzler's syndrome: what's new? [comment]. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2002 May;16(3):214–9. doi: 10.1046/j.1468-3083.2002.00458.x. PubMed
  • Besada E, Nossent H. Dramatic response to IL1-RA treatment in longstanding multidrug resistant Schnitzler's syndrome: a case report and literature review. Clin Rheumatol. 2010;29:567–71. PubMed
  • Lipsker D. The Schnitzler syndrome. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2010 Dec 8;5:38. PubMed
  • Neven B, Marvillet I, Terrada C, et al. Long-term efficacy of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist anakinra in ten patients with neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease/chronic infantile neurologic, cutaneous, articular syndrome. Arthritis Rheum 2010; 62: 258–67. PubMed

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