Ambiguous effects of anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody (bevacizumab) for POEMS syndrome.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
; 84(12): 1346-8, 2013 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23463868
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an essential role in the pathophysiology of polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome. Anti-VEGF antibody (bevacizumab) appears to be an attractive therapeutic option. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of bevacizumab for patients with POEMS syndrome.METHODS:
We reported six POEMS patients treated with bevacizumab and reviewed the literature.RESULTS:
The serum VEGF levels decreased immediately after bevacizumab administration in all six patients. However, four patients had entirely no clinical response, and two of them died. The remaining two showed improvement that could be explained by combined treatments. We also reviewed the literature and found 11 patients treated with bevacizumab; of these, only one was treated with bevacizumab alone. 10 had combined treatments, and four died without any response.CONCLUSIONS:
Both our experience and the literature suggest ambiguous effects of bevacizumab; inhibition of VEGF alone may be insufficient because multiple cytokines are upregulated, or aberrant neo-vascularization may have already fully developed in the advanced stage of POEMS syndrome.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Síndrome POEMS
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Inibidores da Angiogênese
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Fator A de Crescimento do Endotélio Vascular
/
Anticorpos Monoclonais Humanizados
Limite:
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
Ano de publicação:
2013
Tipo de documento:
Article