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Case Reports
. 2018 Jul 26:2018:bcr2017223168.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2017-223168.

POEMS syndrome: diagnostic delay and successful treatment with lenalidomide, cyclophosphamide and prednisone followed by autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation

Sarah Ordway  1 , Laura Gilbert  1 , Sam Wanko  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

POEMS syndrome: diagnostic delay and successful treatment with lenalidomide, cyclophosphamide and prednisone followed by autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation

Sarah Ordway et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome is a rare systemic disease, often unrecognised in the primary care setting. POEMS syndrome is associated with plasma cell dyscrasias and upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor leading to systemic oedema, papilloedema and pulmonary hypertension. A wide constellation of presenting symptoms often leads to late diagnosis. Unrecognised and untreated disease rapidly leads to death from neuropathic exhaustion or cardiopulmonary failure. Treatment is extrapolated from other plasma cell dyscrasias such as multiple myeloma. Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) is often an important component of treatment. There is no established standard of care for POEMS syndrome. Therapies include lenalidomide, bortezomib and targeted monoclonal antibodies. We present a patient with POEMS syndrome who achieved rapid complete response to triple therapy consisting of lenalidomide, cyclophosphamide and prednisone, followed by high-dose chemotherapy and PBSCT.

Keywords: cancer intervention; haematology (drugs and medicines); monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance associated neuropathy; peripheral nerve disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Axial T2-weighted MRI of the lumbar spine demonstrated symmetrical enlargement of the extradural peripheral nerves.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brain revealed diffusely decreased calvarial bone marrow signal related to osteosclerosis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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