Polyneuropathy with osteosclerotic myeloma--POEMS syndrome. A case report

J Neurol. 1992 Jan;239(1):49-52. doi: 10.1007/BF00839213.

Abstract

A rare form of plasma cell dyscrasia characterized by associated polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein and skin changes has been termed the POEMS syndrome. The pathophysiology is unknown; plasma cell dyscrasia is essential; secondary manifestations are unexplained. We report a 67-year-old man with a 7-month history of progressive weakness and numbness of the legs. Clinical examination revealed sensorimotor polyneuropathy, predominantly affecting the lower extremities, hepatomegaly, and skin haemangiomas. Additional investigations disclosed IgG-lambda monoclonal serum protein, endocrine abnormalities, elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein level and an osteoblastic lesion of the lumbar vertebra. Biopsy of the osteosclerotic vertebra showed a marked lymphoplasmocytic infiltrate. MRI of the liver disclosed two haemangiomas; this association has not been reported previously.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bone Neoplasms / complications
  • Hemangioma / complications
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / complications
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Multiple Myeloma / complications
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary
  • POEMS Syndrome* / complications
  • POEMS Syndrome* / epidemiology
  • POEMS Syndrome* / immunology
  • POEMS Syndrome* / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / complications
  • Yugoslavia / epidemiology