Main characteristics of patients with POEMS syndrome
| Patient no. . | Age (y) . | Sex . | Polyneuropathy . | Organomegaly . | Endocrinopathy . | M component . | Skin changes* . |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44 | F | Tetraplegia | Spleen | — | IgGλ | — |
| 2 | 52 | M | Sensory, 4 limbs | — | Impotence | IgGκ+ | Melanodermy |
| IgMλ† | |||||||
| 3‡ | 50 | M | Sensory, predominating in lower limbs with disabling ataxia | Liver, spleen, adenopathy | Adrenal insufficiency | IgAλ | Melanodermy |
| 4 | 62 | M | Sensory 4 limbs, distal motor deficit of lower limbs | — | Diabetes mellitus | IgAλ | Melanodermy |
| 5 | 54 | M | Sensory, lower limbs | Liver | Diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism | IgAλ | Telangiectasia |
| Patient no. . | Age (y) . | Sex . | Polyneuropathy . | Organomegaly . | Endocrinopathy . | M component . | Skin changes* . |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44 | F | Tetraplegia | Spleen | — | IgGλ | — |
| 2 | 52 | M | Sensory, 4 limbs | — | Impotence | IgGκ+ | Melanodermy |
| IgMλ† | |||||||
| 3‡ | 50 | M | Sensory, predominating in lower limbs with disabling ataxia | Liver, spleen, adenopathy | Adrenal insufficiency | IgAλ | Melanodermy |
| 4 | 62 | M | Sensory 4 limbs, distal motor deficit of lower limbs | — | Diabetes mellitus | IgAλ | Melanodermy |
| 5 | 54 | M | Sensory, lower limbs | Liver | Diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism | IgAλ | Telangiectasia |
POEMS indicates polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes; Ig, immunoglobulin.
Associated with peripheral edema in patients 2, 3, and 4.
Associated with monotypic plasma cells bearing λ light chains in the biopsied osteosclerotic bone lesion.
Patient of Asiatic origin presenting with, in addition, POEMS nephropathy.