[Poems syndrome: review of a case]

Abstract

POEMS (acronym for polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein and skin changes) is a very rare syndrome probably related to plasma cell dyscrasia. A 43 year old man developed a progressive symmetric sensory motor polyneuropathy 2 years before admission. Hepatosplenomegaly and sclerodermatoid skin changes were present on physical examination. A sclerotic lesion of the right femur was disclosed by radiologic examination. Serum immunoelectrophoresis demonstrated a monoclonal protein IgG-lambda pattern and the bone marrow biopsy revealed an increased plasma cell count (15%). The patient died 7 months after admission from pneumonia. A review of the literature is included.