POEMS (Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, Monoclonal Plasma Cell Disorder, and Skin Changes) Syndrome as a Sequela of Castleman Disease: A Case Report

Abstract

Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal plasma cell disorder, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome is a rare multisystemic paraneoplastic disorder caused by an underlying plasma cell dyscrasia. Its diagnosis is based on the presence of two mandatory criteria and at least one major and one minor criterion. We report a case of a 52-year-old female patient who presented with complaints of acrocyanosis, night sweats, scaly skin, and swelling on the left side of the neck. She was a known case of hypothyroidism, antiphospholipid syndrome, and cerebral venous thrombosis, and had other comorbidities as well. She also exhibited weakness and paresthesia of the limbs and muscle wasting in the hands. All necessary examinations and investigations were performed and the patient was eventually diagnosed with POEMS syndrome. She underwent chemotherapy along with immunotherapy initially, but as the disease relapsed, she was referred for high-dose therapy (HDT) and autologous stem cell transplantation.