Polyneuropathy with osteosclerotic myeloma — POEMS syndrome

A case report

Journal of Neurology volume 239, pages49–52(1992)Cite this article

Summary

A rare form of plasma cell dyscrasia characterized by associated polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein and skin changes has been termed the POEMS syndrome. The pathophysiology is unknown; plasma cell dyscrasia is essential; secondary manifestations are unexplained. We report a 67-year-old-man with a 7-month history of progressive weakness and numbness of the legs. Clinical examination revealed sensorimotor polyneuropathy, predominantly affecting the lower extremities, hepatomegaly, and skin haemangiomas. Additional investigations disclosed IgG-lambda monoclonal serum protein, endocrine abnormalities, elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein level and an osteoblastic lesion of the lumbar vertebra. Biopsy of the osteosclerotic vertebra showed a marked lymphoplasmocytic infiltrate. MRI of the liver disclosed two haemangiomas; this association has not been reported previously.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University Clinical Center, Dr. Subotića 6, YU-11000, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

    Aleksandra Vidaković, Nebojša Stojisavljević, Rajko Trikić & Slobodan Apostolski

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Clinical Center, Dr. Subotića 6, YU-11000, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

    Petar Simić

  3. Department of Haematology, University Clinical Center, Dr. Subotića 6, YU-11000, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

    Ivo Elezović

Authors
  1. Aleksandra Vidaković
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  2. Petar Simić
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  3. Nebojša Stojisavljević
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  4. Ivo Elezović
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  5. Rajko Trikić
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  6. Slobodan Apostolski
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Correspondence to Slobodan Apostolski.

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Vidaković, A., Simić, P., Stojisavljević, N. et al. Polyneuropathy with osteosclerotic myeloma — POEMS syndrome. J Neurol 239, 49–52 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00839213

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Key words

  • Myeloma
  • Osteosclerosis
  • Polyneuropathy
  • M protein
  • Haemangioma