Information for patients

Schnitzler syndrome

Information for patients

The definition of a syndrome is “a set of features or symptoms occurring together and believed to stem from the same cause”. That is often all that is known when a syndrome is first named: just a description of the features that the patients have in common.

In the case of Schnitzler syndrome (or Schnitzler’s syndrome) this set of features includes certain skin lesions, recurring fever, pains in joints, muscle or bone, and a raised blood concentration of a particular protein. The cause of this disease is still unclear. Very little is known about prognosis or treatment options. There are still many unanswered questions.

On these pages we want to offer you the information that is available on Schnitzler syndrome, but we probably won’t be able to answer all your questions.

In the coming months, we will add information on the following subjects:

What are the features of Schnitzler syndrome?

How is a diagnosis of Schnitzler syndrome made?

What is a paraprotein / macroglobulinemia / gammopathy?

What is the cause of Schnitzler syndrome?

Who gets this disease?

How does Schnitzler syndrome progress, what is the prognosis?

What is Waldenström’s disease?

What are the treatment options?

Where does the name “Schnitzler syndrome” come from?

What can be other causes of urticaria?

What should I do if I think I have Schnitzler syndrome?