POEMS syndrome.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative clinical review without systematic review methodology.
PubMed 30138145 · doi:10.1097/WCO.0000000000000610
What was done
This narrative review summarizes recent insights into the pathogenesis, prognostic factors, biomarker utility, risk stratification scores, and repurposed myeloma therapies for polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome based on findings from multicenter cohort studies.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative data or specific numerical endpoints. Qualitatively, it highlights that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) serves as an accurate biomarker for diagnosis and monitoring disease activity, that misdiagnosis with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy remains common, and that treatment algorithms utilize myeloma-derived therapies stratified by monoclonal proliferation extent and functional performance.
Why it matters
POEMS syndrome causes severe neuropathy-related disability if unrecognized. Summarizing diagnostic biomarkers like VEGF and structured treatment algorithms helps clinicians avoid misdiagnosis and guide plasma cell-directed therapies.
Limits
The abstract provides no quantitative effect sizes, survival metrics, or response rates. As a narrative review, it lacks formal search criteria, quality appraisal of cited cohorts, and original primary data.
Cited by
- context A critically ill patient with POEMS syndrome facing withdrawal of life support achieved over 1.5 years of remission following treatment with a multiple myeloma three-drug chemotherapy regimen.