POEMS syndrome

POEMS syndrome is a rare blood disorder that affects multiple systems in the body. The name is an acronym for the five main features of the syndrome: Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, Monoclonal gammopathy, and Skin changes.

Pronunciation

POEMS syndrome is pronounced as "pohmz sin-drohm".

Etymology

The term "POEMS" is an acronym that stands for the five main features of the syndrome. It was first described in 1956 by Crow-Fukase et al., but the acronym was coined in 1980 by Bardwick et al.

Polyneuropathy

Polyneuropathy in POEMS syndrome refers to a condition where multiple peripheral nerves throughout the body malfunction simultaneously. This can lead to symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness.

Organomegaly

Organomegaly is the abnormal enlargement of organs. In POEMS syndrome, this can include the liver (hepatomegaly), spleen (splenomegaly), and lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy).

Endocrinopathy

Endocrinopathy refers to diseases of the endocrine glands. In POEMS syndrome, this can involve various glands such as the thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, and gonads, leading to hormonal imbalances.

Monoclonal gammopathy

Monoclonal gammopathy in POEMS syndrome refers to the presence of an abnormal protein (M protein) in the blood, produced by a clone of plasma cells.

Skin changes

Skin changes in POEMS syndrome can include hyperpigmentation, hypertrichosis, thickening of the skin, and white nails.

Related terms

• Castleman disease
• Plasma cell dyscrasia
• Paraneoplastic syndrome

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on POEMS syndrome
• Wikipedia's article - POEMS syndrome

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