POEMS syndrome: an uncommon cause of peritoneal effusion

POEMS syndrome misdiagnosed as tuberculous pleurisy：a case report

“…The diagnosis of POEMS syndrome poses a challenge due to its rare occurrence and complex clinical symptoms.And its diagnostic criteria are based on the current Dispenzieri diagnosis. [4] .The main manifestation of POEMS syndrome is peripheral neuropathy, which may be accompanied by multiple plasma cavities, sclerotic bone damage, and organomegaly [4] .However, POEMS syndrome may also be characterized by a variety of atypical presentations, among which plasmapheresis is commonly reported [5][6][7][8][9] .Wang W [7] reported a 69-year-old woman whose condition mirrored our patient's, initially misdiagnosed as tuberculous peritonitis because of abdominal swelling and previous tuberculosis exposure. After the anti-tuberculosis therapy proved ineffective, further detailed investigations ultimately con rmed a diagnosis of POEMS syndrome.She was treated with a combination of lenalidomide (25 mg/day) and dexamethasone (40 mg/week), leading to signi cant improvement and her subsequent discharge.A retrospective study found that of 282 cases of POEMS syndrome, 40.1% presented with respiratory symptoms, of which 56.4% presented with pleural effusion [10] .Therefore, it is not uncommon for patients with POEMS syndrome to present with pleural effusions.…”