To CIDP or Not to CIDP

POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal plasma cell disorder, and skin changes) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome. It is generally associated with an underlying plasma cell neoplasm, most commonly osteosclerotic myeloma. The most common paraprotein identified is either IgG or IgA lambda. The dominant symptom of POEMS is neuropathy, present in essentially all cases. The neuropathy of POEMS is a chronic progressive polyneuropathy with predominant motor disability. The fundamental treatment for POEMS is directed at the underlying systemic condition. Among the most commonly used therapies are steroids, alkylating chemotherapies, and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, as well as bortezomib, a protease inhibitor approved for the treatment of myeloma.

Paraproteinaemias

Paraproteinaemias - Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) - Asymptomatic multiple myeloma (‘smouldering’ myeloma) - Multiple myeloma - Variant forms of myeloma - Cryoglobulinaemia - POEMS syndrome (osteosclerotic myeloma) - Plasmacytoma - Waldenström macroglobulinaemia - Heavy chain disease - AL (1° systemic) amyloidosis

Paraproteinaemias

Paraproteinaemias - Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) - Asymptomatic multiple myeloma (‘smouldering’ myeloma) - Multiple myeloma - Variant forms of myeloma - Cryoglobulinaemia - POEMS syndrome (osteosclerotic myeloma) - Plasmacytoma - Waldenström macroglobulinaemia - Heavy chain disease - AL (1° systemic) amyloidosis