Characteristics of 1946 Cases of POEMS Syndrome in Chinese Subjects: A Literature-Based Study

Abstract

POEMS syndrome is a rare paraneoplastic disorder characterized secondary to a rare plasma cell dyscrasia. Here, we aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of large sample cases of POEMS in Chinese subjects through making a review of the Chinese literature. Four databases were electronically searched from inception until October 2016. Case reports and case series were identified. Six hundred studies with 1946 participants were identified. The first case was reported in 1986, and the number of reported cases peaked in 2009 and 2010. The top seven provinces on the number of reported cases were in the south-east area of China. The top three departments on the number of published papers and reported cases were ordinally department of Neurology, Hematology, and Endocrinology. The ratio of male to female was about 2.23. The range of age onset was from 10 to 81 years with the mean age of 46.39 (SD, 12.10 years). The initial symptoms of POEMS with peripheral neuropathy, edema and effusions, endocrinopathy, skin changes, and organomegaly accounted for 60.44, 15.72, 9.87, 8.05, and 2.13%, respectively, and subsequently acquired above symptoms as the prevalence was 99.49, 81.91, 75.56, 77.08, and 83.09%, respectively. The present study would help to understand the clinical presentations of POEMS syndrome in the Chinese population.

Bartonella henselae Neuroretinitis: A Rare Coinfection in POEMS Syndrome

“…Previous studies have reported median survival time after diagnosis of only 165 months and 30 months respectively for POEMS and MCD patients. 15 A recent study by Wang et al 16 reported that most patients died due to cardiorespiratory failure, capillary leakage complications, and infection during the disease course. The total number of presenting features during the initial diagnosis of the disease was insignificant in predicting patient survival.…”

Paraneoplastic endocrinopathy in Castleman disease and POEMS syndrome

“…Аналогичные данные приводят китайские авторы. Так, по данным регистра Китайской Народной Республики, при пер вичной постановке диагноза периферическая нейро патия встречалась в 60,44 % случаев, отечный синд ром -в 15,72 %, эндокринопатии -в 9,87 %, кожные изменения -в 8,05 % и органомегалия -в 2,13 % [51].…”

Rare Forms of Endocrine and Systemic Autoimmune Disorders

“…No circulating autoantibodies against hormones or hormone receptor nor characteristic histological findings have been identified. It has been hypothesized that the overexpression of VEFG could alter the local balance of angiogenic factor and, consequently, affect the regulation of (Marchand et al 2017;Wang et al 2019).…”

“…Prophylaxis with anti-aggregants is recommended for the high risk of thrombosis, in association with orthotics, physical therapy, and c-PAP in case of bone/muscle or lung involvement, respectively. No specific recommendations the management of endocrine disorders have been formulated (Dispenzieri 2019;Wang et al 2019).…”