Plasma cell dyscrasia with polyneuropathy and endocrine disorder: clinical and laboratory features of 109 reported cases

Abstract

We reviewed a series of 109 reported Japanese cases of "plasma cell dyscrasia with polyneuropathy and endocrine disorder." This syndrome shows 1) polyneuropathy with increased protein level in the cerebrospinal fluid and sometimes papilledema, 2) endocrinological symptoms, including skin pigmentation, sclerosis, hypertrichosis, gynecomastia, impotence, amenorrhea, decreased glucose tolerance, edema, pleural effusion and ascites, 3) hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy, 4) polycythemia, leukocytosis and thrombocytosis, 5) osteosclerotic changes and 6) plasma cell dyscrasia. Plasma cell dyscrasia is considered to be the cardinal change in this syndrome. Most of the patients have low levels of IgG lambda or IgA lambda M-protein in the serum and a slightly increased number of plasma cells in the bone marrow. The clinical course is usually chronic. Surgical excision or irradiation of the local lesion and administration of corticosteroids and/or anti-cancer drugs are effective in improving polyneuropathy and other systemic symptoms. This syndrome is apparently more common in Japan than in the United States and European countries. The pathogenesis of the association of a variety of symptoms in this syndrome is still unclear.