Recent studies showed the co-existence of chronic urticaria and metabolic syndrome (MS) in a Korean population25; patients with both chronic urticaria and MS were older, had a more severe disease, had higher levels of inflammation markers (i.e. eosinophil cationic protein [ECP], tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, and complement), and, interestingly, more frequently scored negative on the ASST than those without MS. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is metabolic syndrome.