Síndrome POEMS: um diagnóstico desafiador / POEMS Syndrome: a challenging diagnosis

A síndrome POEMS é um distúrbio multissistêmico. Sua patogênese não está totalmente estabelecida, mas sabe-se que tem relação com fator de crescimento vascular endotelial, interleucinas e fator de necrose tumoral alfa. A idade média de incidência é 50 anos, com maior prevalência em homens. Neuropatia periférica e gamopatia monoclonal estão presentes em todos os pacientes e são consideradas critérios maiores; quando associadas a pelo menos um critério menor, estabelecem diagnóstico da síndrome. As opções de tratamento são radioterapia, corticosteroides e quimioterapia, além de transplante autólogo de células-tronco hematopoiéticas. (AU)

POEMS syndrome is a multisystem disorder. Its pathogenesis isn't fully established, but it is known to be related to endothelial vascular growth factor, interleukins, and tumoral necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). The mean age at incidence is 50 years, with a higher prevalence in men. Peripheral neuropathy and monoclonal gammopathy are present in all patients, and are considered major criteria; when associated with at least one minor criterium, they establish the diagnosis of the syndrome. Treatment options are radiotherapy, corticosteroids, chemotherapy, as well as autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. (AU)

Compromiso renal en síndrome de Poems: caso clínico / Chronic kidney disease associated with Poems syndrome: report of one case

POEMS syndrome is characterized by Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, Monoclonal protein and Skin changes. We report a woman with the syndrome, who had peripheral polyneuropathy, osteosclerotic myeloma, monoclonal IgA elevation, hypothyroidism, hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, hyperprolactinemia, adrenal insufficiency, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, thyroid and parotid enlargement, Castleman’s disease, papilledema, stiff and hyperpigmented skin, white nails, clubbing, ascites and chronic diarrhea. She had also a nephropathy characterized by microscopic hematuria, proteinuria, renal insufficiency and a unilateral kidney retraction. She was treated with melphalan and prednisone, achieving remission of the disease and nephropathy. She survived twelve years and died due to a myocardial infarction 20 years after POEMS diagnosis.

Optic Disc Edema Responding to Localized Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment in a Patient with POEMS Syndrome

No abstract available.

Intravitreal Bevacizumab for the Treatment of Optic Disc Edema in a Patient with POEMS Syndrome

No abstract available.

Síndrome de Poems: reporte de un caso clínico / Poems syndrome: a case report

El Síndrome de POEMS (polineuropatía, organomegalia, endocrinopatía, pico gamma monoclonal ycambios en la piel) es una discrasia de células plasmáticas que se manifiesta con un característicoconjunto de trastornos para neoplásicos. Los cambios en la piel, como hiperpigmentación cutáneageneralizada, son debidos al aumento en la secreción del factor de crecimiento del endotelio vascular.Se reporta el caso de una mujer de 67 años de edad que se presentó con astenia, adinamia y uncuadro importante de anemia, asociados a diabetes mellitus, hipotiroidismo y polineuropatía motora ysensitiva de moderada intensidad. Sus cambios en la piel consistieron en hiperpigmentación, manchasvioláceas en los labios y acentuación de los pliegues de las manos. Los estudios subsecuentesevidenciaron el pico gamma monoclonal y la polineuropatía axonal sensitivo-motora en elelectromiograma. Se brindó el tratamiento quimioterapéutico correspondiente pero sufriócomplicaciones mielosupresoras por esta razón, desarrollo una neumonía intrahospitalaria y falleció aconsecuencia.

The POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein and skin changes)is a rare atypical plasma cell dyscrasia with characteristic para neoplastic manifestations. The skinchanges, as generalized skin hyperpigmentation, are related with elevated levels of vascularendothelial growth factor. We report a clinical case of 67 years old woman who presented withasthenia, adynamia and important anemia, associated to diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism and amoderated intensity motor-sensitive polyneuropathy. The skin changes presented by this patientwere hyperpigmentation, violet spots in the lips and accentuation of the lines in the palm of the hand.Subsequent analysis showed the M–protein and the electromyography showed a motor-sensitivepolyneuropathy in both legs. Adequate chemotherapy was given but mielosuppressive effects wereshown, she acquired nosocomial pneumonia and died as consequence.

Síndrome de POEMS associada à doença de Castleman: relato de caso e revisão da literatura / POEMS syndrome associated with Castleman disease: case report and literature review

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A síndrome de POEMS é uma entidade rara e pouco diagnosticada devido a sua variedade de manifestações clínicas, a maior parte delas inespecíficas. Pode estar associada à doença de Castleman em até 25% dos casos, uma entidade histopatológica também pouco comum. O diagnóstico da síndrome de POEMS é clínico, baseado em critérios definidos pela Mayo Clinic e seu tratamento ainda é um desafio. O objetivo deste estudo foi relatar um caso de síndrome de POEMS associada à doença de Castleman. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do sexo masculino, 52 anos, foi encaminhado ao serviço com quadro de seis meses de evolução de emagrecimento, ginecomastia, hiperpigmentação de face e extremidades e parestesia distal em membros inferiores. Ao exame físico, notava-se também linfonodomegalia difusa. Exames laboratoriais mostravam eritrocitose, trombocitose, hipotireoidismo subclínico, testosterona no limite inferior da normalidade e hiperproteinorraquia. Exames de imagem para detecção de neoplasia foram todos normais. A biópsia de linfonodo supraclavicular esquerdo demonstrou doença de Castleman e a imunofixação sérica evidenciou componente monoclonal de cadeia leve, o que levou ao diagnóstico de síndrome de POEMS associada à doençade Castleman. CONCLUSÃO: A síndrome de POEMS deve ser lembrada em pacientes com quadro neurológico associado à doença monoclonal e manifestações clínicas diversas, enquanto a doença de Castleman deve fazer parte do diagnóstico diferencial de linfonodomegalia. A associação das duas entidades, apesar de rara, pode estar presente.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: POEMS syndrome is a rare, often poorly diagnosed entity because of its variety of clinical manifestations, the majority of them being unspecific. It can be associated with Castleman disease, also a rare histopathological entity, in up to 25% of cases. The diagnosis of POEMS syndrome is a clinical one, based on Mayo Clinic criteria, and its management is still a challenge. The objective of this article was to report a case of POEMS syndrome associated with Castleman disease. CASE REPORT: Male patient, 52-year-old was referred to our service due to weight loss, gynecomastia, face and extremities hyperpigmentation and distal paresthesia of lower limbs that have been progressing for 6 months. At clinical examination, diffuse lymphadenopathy was also noted. Laboratory tests demonstrated polycythemia, thrombocytosis, subclinical hypothyroidism, testosterone at the lower limit of normal, and elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein. Images to detect tumors were all normal. Aleft supraclavicular lymph node biopsy revealed Castleman disease and serum immunoelectrophoresis demonstrated monoclonal light chain. With these findings, the diagnosis of POEMS syndrome associated with Castleman disease was established. CONCLUSION: POEMS syndrome should be considered in patients with a neurological condition associated with a monoclonal disease and many diverse clinical manifestations, while Castleman disease might be part of differential diagnosis of lymphadenomegaly. The association of the two entities, though rare,can be present.

Hemangioma glomeruloide e a síndrome POEMS: relato de dois casos e revisão da literatura / Glomeruloid hemangioma in POEMS syndrome: a report on two cases and a review of the literature

O hemangioma glomeruloide caracteriza-se por enovelados capilares contidos em espaços vasculares dilatados reminiscentes de glomérulos renais, sendo fortemente associado à síndrome POEMS (polineuropatia, organomegalia, endocrinopatia, gamopatia monoclonal e alterações cutâneas). Relatamse dois casos da síndrome associados a hemangiomas glomeruloides e faz-se uma revisão da literatura. O primeiro é uma paciente feminina, 63 anos, internada para investigação de ascite, hepatoesplenomegalia, dificuldade de deambulação e hemangiomas cutâneos. A histopatologia de uma dessas lesões estabeleceu o diagnóstico de hemangioma glomeruloide e direcionou a investigação, que revelou polineuropatia sensitivo-motora, plasmocitoma kappa-positivo em L4 e Diabetes mellitus, permitindo o diagnóstico da síndrome. O segundo caso é de uma paciente feminina, 39 anos, com edema, ascite, derrame pleural, hemangiomas glomeruloides e linfonodomegalias (doença de Castleman). Havia um componente monoclonal de IgG-lambda e lesões blásticas no ilíaco direito e em L4, assim como lesão desmielinizante sensitivo-motora nos quatro membros, compondo o diagnóstico de síndrome POEMS.

Glomeruloid hemangioma is characterized by coiled capillary vessels contained within enlarged vascular spaces displaying an architecture that resembles renal glomeruli. The condition is strongly associated with POEMS syndrome (Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, Monoclonal gammopathy and Skin changes). The present paper reports on two cases of glomeruloid hemangiomas associated with POEMS syndrome, and includes a review of the literature. Case one refers to a 63-year old female patient admitted to hospital with ascites, hepatosplenomegaly, walking difficulties and cutaneous hemangiomas. Histopathology revealed a diagnosis of glomeruloid hemangioma and served to guide the clinical work-up, which revealed sensorimotor polyneuropathy, a plasmacytoma in the L4 vertebra with tumor cells positive for kappa chain, and diabetes mellitus. These findings permitted a diagnosis of POEMS syndrome to be reached. The second case consisted of a 39-year old woman admitted to hospital with edema, ascites, pleural effusion, glomeruloid hemangiomas and lymphadenopathy (Castleman's disease). Additional findings included monoclonal IgG-lambda paraproteinemia, blastic lesions in the right iliac bone and L4 vertebra, and demyelinating sensorimotor neuropathy affecting all four limbs. The final diagnosis in this case was POEMS syndrome associated with Castleman's disease.

Corticoide sistêmico como tratamento de primeira linha da hipertensão pulmonar secundária a síndrome POEMS / Systemic corticosteroids as first-line treatment in pulmonary hypertension associated with POEMS syndrome

A síndrome POEMS é uma rara doença de plasmócitos. A ocorrência de hipertensão pulmonar como complicação respiratória da síndrome é pouco frequente e pode estar ligada ao aumento de várias citocinas, quimiocinas e fatores de crescimento como parte dos fenômenos inflamatórios que cercam a fisiopatologia da síndrome POEMS. Descrevemos o caso de uma mulher de 54 anos com síndrome POEMS e hipertensão pulmonar, que foi tratada com corticoide como terapia de primeira linha. Tratava-se de uma paciente com clássicos sintomas dessa síndrome: polineuropatia (confirmada por eletroneuromiografia), organomegalia, hipotireoidismo subclínico, gamopatia monoclonal em dosagem urinária e alterações cutâneas. A cateterização cardíaca direita revelou pressão arterial pulmonar média de 48 mmHg, débito cardíaco de 4,1 L/min e resistência vascular pulmonar de 8,05 Woods. O nível sérico de brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) foi de 150 pg/mL. Nenhuma outra doença foi encontrada durante investigação. Prednisona (1 mg/kg por três meses) foi iniciada, com dramática melhora clínica e funcional, além de normalização dos níveis dos hormônios tireoidianos e de proteína em urina por eletroforese. A pressão arterial pulmonar média caiu para 26 mmHg, o débito cardíaco para 3,8 L/min e a resistência vascular pulmonar para 2,89 Woods. O nível sérico de BNP caiu para 8pg/mL. Nossos achados indicam o potencial papel da corticoterapia como primeira linha de tratamento na hipertensão pulmonar associada à síndrome POEMS. Diante da raridade dessa apresentação, um registro multicêntrico deveria ser desenvolvido para permitir a aquisição de mais dados que suportem essa conduta.

The POEMS syndrome is a rare plasma cell disease. Pulmonary hypertension is an infrequent respiratory complication of this syndrome and might be associated with increased levels of various cytokines, chemokines and growth factors as part of the inflammatory phenomena that involve the physiopathology of POEMS syndrome. We present the case of a 54-year-old woman diagnosed with POEMS syndrome and pulmonary hypertension, which were treated with corticosteroids as the first-line therapy. The patient presented with the classic symptoms of this syndrome: polyneuropathy (confirmed by electromyography), organomegaly, subclinical hypothyroidism and monoclonal gammopathy detected in urine, together with skin changes. Right heart catheterization revealed a mean pulmonary artery pressure of 48 mmHg, a cardiac output of 4.1 L/min and pulmonary vascular resistance of 8.05 Woods. The serum level of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was 150 pg/mL. No other underlying disease was found during the investigation. Prednisone (1 mg/kg for three months) was then initiated, with a dramatic improvement in the clinical and functional condition. Levels of thyroid hormones and urinary protein levels (as determined using electrophoresis) normalized. Mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased to 26 mmHg, cardiac output decreased to 3.8 L/min, and pulmonary vascular resistance decreased to 2.89 Woods. Serum levels of BNP dropped to 8 pg/mL. Our findings suggest that corticosteroids could play a role as a first-line treatment in pulmonary hypertension accompanied by POEMS syndrome. Due to the rarity of this presentation, a multicenter registry should be developed to allow the compilation of additional data to support this practice.

Síndrome de POEMS con lesión lítica aislada y hemangiomas glomeruloides: caso clínico / POEMS syndrome with an isolated lytic lesion and glomeruloid hemangiomas: report of one case

POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrine abnormality, M-protein, plasma cell dyscrasia, and skin lesions) is a rare atypical plasma cell dyscrasia with characteristic para neoplastic manifestations. Glomeruloid hemangioma is a typical skin change pathogenetically related with elevated levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). We report a 69 year-old woman that presented cachexia associated with diabetes, hypothyroidism and severe sensitive motor polyneuropathy. Her skin changes included hyper pigmentation, acrocyanosis and glomeruloid hemangioma. The subsequent study revealed a monoclonal gammopathy lambda type; a unique lytic vertebral lesion and a clonal plasma cell proliferation. Treatment with prednisone 0.5 mg/kg and melphalan 0,25 mg/kg in cycles of 4 days every 4 weeks was started, but the patient was lost from follow up.

Multiple capillary hemangiomas: a distinctive lesion of multicentric Castleman's disease and POEMS syndrome.

A diagnosed case of Castleman's disease, proven by biopsy from enlarged inguinal lymph nodes, presented with multiple, asymptomatic, erythematous papules and nodules prevalent since nine years over the trunk and extremities. The lesions had been gradually increasing in number and size. The patient had had plasmacytoma of the lower thoracic vertebra 12 years ago, for which he was adequately treated with chemotherapy and local radiotherapy. Dermatological examination revealed erythematous papules and nodules on the face, trunk, and extremities that were diagnostic of capillary hemangiomas. Histopathology of the erythematous, soft papule was suggestive of capillary hemangioma. Contrast-enhanced computerized tomography of the abdomen and pelvis showed multiple retroperitoneal nodes suggestive of Castleman's disease along with multiple osteolytic lesions in the pelvic girdle and vertebrae. The patient was treated with injection rituximab and is currently under follow-up. We report this case to highlight a rare association between Castleman's disease and POEMS syndrome.

POEMS syndrome with venous sinus thrombosis and visual failure: a case report.

POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein and skin changes) syndrome is a multisystem disorder associated with plasma cell dyscrasia. Other clinical signs include clubbing of the fingers, edema, papilledema etc. Although papilledema and increased intracranial pressure are common features, their causes or pathophysiology have been uncertain. The authors report here a 16-year-old Thai patient with these features who also suffered from venous sinus thrombosis and visual failure which have never been reported before. The former is considered to be one of the possible causes of the intracranial hypertension and visual failure. MRI of the brain and optic nerve revealed enhancement and swelling of the optic nerve sheaths and optic discs. MRV findings were compatible with chronic veno-occlusive disease. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy demonstrated an increase of aggregates of intermediate and mature plasma cells. The CSF pressure was markedly elevated. His clinical condition continued to deteriorate and he expired 3 years and 5 months from the onset of his illness. Although, overproduction of vascular endothelial growth factor has been reported and is being considered to be the possible cause of vascular hyperpermeability, the chronic venous sinus thrombosis may play an important role in the pathogenesis of intracranial hypertension and visual failure.

Polyneuropathy with osteosclerotic myeloma--POEMS syndrome.

A 55-years-old male, who presented with insidious onset gradually progressive sensorimotor polyneuropathy, POEMS-syndrome was diagnosed based on polyneuropathy, splenomegaly, hypothyroidism, the presence of IgG-monoclonal serum protein with osteosclerotic lesions and hyperpigmention of skin. Biopsy of the osteosclerotic lesion from the right superior pubic rami was consistent with plasmocytoma. Electrophysiological studies revealed demyelinating sensorimotor neuropathy and biopsy from sural nerve showed demyelinating neuropathy with secondary axonopathy. The patient showed improvement with radiotherapy. This is a rare systemic disease from the clinical spectrum of plasma cell dyscrasias with polyneuropathy. The importance of POEMS syndrome in the differential diagnosis of polyneuropathies has been emphasized.

Síndrome de Poems: caso clínico / Poems' syndrome: a clinical case

A 48 years old male is reported. He presented with lower limb progressive and severe polyneuropathy, hypertrichosis, endocrinological alterations (hypothyroidism and hypogonadism) and organomegaly (hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathies). This syndrome was associated with an osteosclerosis myeloma. The patient died two months after admission

Síndrome de Poems

Una forma poco común de discrasia de células plasmáticas asociada a polineuropatía, organomegalia, endocrinopatía, proteína monoclonal y cambios de piel ha recibido el nombre de POEMS. Informamos un caso de una paciente con mieloma múltiple asociado a amiloidosis y hallazgos clínicos de polineuropatía, hepatoesplenomegalia, intolerancia a los carbohidratos, pico monoclonal e hiperpigmentación que configuran el diagnóstico del síndrome de POEMS. Es el primer caso descrito en nuestro país y el cuarto en Latinoamérica.

POEMS syndrome: a case report

POEMS syndrome is a multisystem disorder associated with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, a monoclonal protein (M-protein), and skin changes. The authors describe a patient with POEMS syndrome who had osteosclerotic myeloma confirmed by open bone biopsy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed discrete lesions of low signal intensity in both T1 and T2-weighted images. This patient is now being successfully treated with melphalan and prednisone with much improvement in skin thickening and sensory change in the lower extremities.