Abstract
We treated 5 patients with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome and multifocal bone lesions or diffuse bone marrow plasmacytic infiltration with high-dose therapy (HDT) and autologous blood stem cell transplantation. In all cases, the treatment produced remission of plasma cell proliferation associated with marked improvement in the patients' performance status, neurologic symptoms, and other manifestations of the syndrome. HDT with stem cell support should be investigated further as a therapeutic option in patients with POEMS syndrome and disseminated plasma cell dyscrasia.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / administration & dosage*
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Clone Cells / immunology
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Clone Cells / pathology
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Combined Modality Therapy
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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Female
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Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
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Humans
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Immunoglobulins / blood
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Immunoglobulins / urine
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Male
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Melphalan / administration & dosage
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Middle Aged
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Nervous System Diseases / etiology
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POEMS Syndrome / complications
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POEMS Syndrome / pathology
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POEMS Syndrome / therapy*
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Plasma Cells / immunology
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Plasma Cells / pathology
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Remission Induction
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Transplantation, Autologous
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Treatment Outcome
Substances
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Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
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Immunoglobulins
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Melphalan