POEMS syndrome: a rare case of monoclonal plasmaproliferative disorder

POEMS syndrome is defined by the presence of a peripheral neuropathy (P), a monoclonal plasma cell disorder (M), and other paraneoplastic features, the most common of which include organomegaly (O), endocrinopathy (E), skin changes (S). Not all features of the disease are required to make the diagnosis. We report a case of POEMS syndrome in a 50-year-old female who presented with weakness, abdominal swelling and history of red cell transfusions. Because of the hepatosplenomegaly (Schuffner VII) we diagnosed her as chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) or myelofibrosis. Her peripheral blood smear did not show granulopoiesis maturation from myeloblast nor leukoerytroblastic feature which was characteristic of CML and myelofibrosis. We found also anemia, peripheral motoric neuropathy and hyperpigmentation at her legs. The protein electrophoresis showed monoclonal gammopathy on b2 globulin. Bone marrow examination showed normal plasma cells. There was no lytic or sclerotic lesion on Schedel and tibia x-ray. The echocardiography showed pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary regurgitation, right and left ventricle hypertrophy with normal ejection fraction (50%). She was treated with melphalan 10 mg/m2 (day 1-4) and prednisone 60 mg/m2 (day 1-4) every 6 weeks with packed red cells transfusion. After 3 cycles the monoclonal protein was reduced from 35.5% to 26.1% (normal 2-5%) without changes in her spleen size. Until then she continued on melphalan and prednisone treatment. Although POEMS syndrome is a rare disease, it should be considered in patient with hepatosplenomegaly, especially if accompanied by peripheral neuropathy.