Anakinra: an effective treatment in the Schnitzler syndrome.

Schnitzler syndrome is a rare disease characterized by chronic urticarial eruption and a monoclonal gammapathy. The exact pathogenesis is still unclear and treatment remains a challenge. We report the case of a patient with a 2-year history of arthralgia, chronic urticaria rash and fever, not responding to different treatments including anti-histaminics, corticosteroids, colchicine and low dose methotrexate.

Coagulopathies frequency in aseptic osteonecrosis patients.

Many risk factors of aseptic osteonecrosis (AO) are well-known, even if 40% of events are idiopathic. Intravascular thrombosis is one of the physiopathological mechanisms of AO. The aim of this study is to determine the influence of coagulopathies on AO set-up.

Peripheral neuropathy associated with leflunomide: is there a risk patient profile?

Purpose: (i) To monitor the potential clinical neurotoxic symptoms in patients treated with leflunomide in daily practice and (ii) to describe the characteristics of patients presenting with this peripheral nervous system symptoms.

Method: All patients treated with leflunomide between May 2000 and April 2003 and followed in the rheumatology department of the University Hospital participated in the study. Data concerning treatment patterns with leflunomide, demographic and disease characteristics were obtained from clinical charts.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha therapy in fifteen patients with AA amyloidosis secondary to inflammatory arthritides: a followup report of tolerability and efficacy.

Objective: Because anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF) has emerged as a highly effective treatment for numerous inflammatory arthritides, which are a common cause of AA amyloidosis, we retrospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of anti-TNF in a nationwide study.

Methods: The rheumatology departments of all French teaching hospitals were contacted by mail to obtain the files of patients with histologically proven secondary AA amyloidosis and renal involvement who were treated with anti-TNF. Efficacy was assessed as a sustained decrease in 24-hour proteinuria and a stable/improved glomerular filtration rate (GFR).