POEMS syndrome presenting with cardiomegaly and cardiomyopathy

Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein, skin changes syndrome with dilated cardiomyopathy: A case report

BACKGROUND

Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein, skin changes (POEMS) syndrome is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome that encompass multiple systems. The most common clinical symptoms of POEMS syndrome are progressive sensorimotor polyneuropathy, organ enlargement, endocrine disorders, darkening skin, a monoclonal plasma cell proliferative disorder, and lymph node hyperplasia. The organomegaly consists of hepatosplenomegaly and/or lymphadenopathy; cases of cardiomyopathy are rare. Diagnoses are often delayed because of the atypical nature of the syndrome, exposing patients to possibly severe disability. Therefore, identifying atypical symptoms can improve the prognosis and quality of life among POEMS syndrome patients.

CASE SUMMARY

Herein, we report the case of a 59-year-old woman with POEMS syndrome that involved dilated cardiomyopathy. The patient presented to the hospital with complaints of shortness of breath and discomfort in the chest. The patient reported previous experiences of limb numbness. During hospitalization, the brain natriuretic peptide levels were 3504.0 pg/mL. Color doppler echocardiography showed an enlarged left side of the heart, along with ventricular wall hypokinesis and compromised functioning of the same side of the heart. Abdominal color ultrasonography revealed that the patient's spleen was enlarged. Observations from cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed that the left side of the heart was enlarged. Slight myocardical fibrosis was also observed. Electromyography was described as a symmetric sensorimotor demyelinating polyneuropathy. Further immunoelectrophoresis of the serum showed the presence of a monoclonal IGA λ M protein. The vascular endothelial growth factor levels were 622.56 pg/mL. Flow cytometric and immunohistochemical staining of the bone marrow detected no monoclonal plasma cells. Finally, the patient was diagnosed with POEMS syndrome associated with dilated cardiomyopathy. The chest-related discomfort and the shortness of breath resolved after the administration of lenalidomide and dexamethasone.

CONCLUSION

When patients with cardiomyopathy have systemic manifestations such as numb limbs and darkening skin, the POEMS syndrome is the most possible diagnosis.

Effective treatment of polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein, and skin changes syndrome with congestive heart failure: A case report

BACKGROUND

Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome caused by a plasma cell proliferative disorder. The syndrome is characterized by elevated plasma cells, platelets, and vascular endothelial growth factor levels. Although heart disease rarely occurs in POEMS syndrome, the death rate increases sharply after heart failure. We report a patient who initially presented with an endocrine disease and developed congestive heart failure related to POEMS syndrome 9 years later.

CASE SUMMARY

A 23-year-old woman with no history of menstruation and a 9-year history of type I diabetes reported feeling breathless after activities. She could not lie down and rest at night. Three months prior, she experienced pain and increased tension in her left thigh accompanied by tenderness and edema in both lower extremities. The chief complaint upon hospital admission was that blood sugar has increased for more than 9 years, pain in the left thigh, and edema in both legs for more than 2 mo. After a multisystem evaluation, she was diagnosed with POEMS syndrome. Her echocardiogram showed left ventricular dilation with systolic dysfunction, and the left ventricular ejection fraction was only 38% with severely elevated brain natriuretic peptide. She received a combination of dexamethasone and thalidomide for 1 mo, but her symptoms did not improve. Therefore, we added a two-per-week bortezomib injection. After 2 wk, the patient’s heart function had improved significantly.

CONCLUSION

This case provides information about the treatment of POEMS syndrome with complications and highlights the challenges of developing a standardized treatment.

Left ventricular systolic dysfunction with concomitant bradyarrhythmia in a patient with POEMS syndrome: a case report

Background

POEMS syndrome (PS) is a paraneoplastic disorder from plasma cell dyscrasia, characterized by polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal protein, and skin changes. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs)-driven fluid extracellular matrix expansion plays a key role in this condition. Associated cardiac involvement has been sparsely reported thus far.

Case summary

A 55-year-old woman with PS presented with a pleural effusion and respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction with a moderate pericardial effusion. She developed intermittent complete heart block and ventricular standstill, requiring temporary transcutaneous pacing. Further evaluation revealed no significant coronary stenosis on coronary angiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) showed elevated T1 and extracellular volume suggestive of myocardial oedema with possible early cardiac infiltration. She had a dual-chamber permanent pacemaker implanted in view of recurrent high-grade heart block. She was initiated on a daratumumab-based chemotherapy regimen prior to discharge. She recovered well subsequently with a promising clinical response to chemotherapy.

Discussion

We describe the first case of LV systolic dysfunction with concomitant significant bradyarrhythmia in a patient with PS. CMR revealed evidence suggestive of LV myocardial oedema and/or possible early infiltration. VEGF overexpression could explain oedema-related LV dysfunction which reversed with adequate diuresis, as well as damage to the conduction system. Early cardiac amyloidosis, which can be associated with PS, is an important differential diagnosis. Pacemaker implantation, adequate diuresis, and definitive chemotherapy are key to the management of concomitant ventricular myocardial and electrical dysfunction in such rare case.

POEMS Syndrome Showing Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Extracellular Edema Assessed by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Although cardiac involvement is rare in polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome, the clinical course becomes considerably worse on complication with cardiac lesions. The increased release of various cytokines has been observed in the pathogenesis of POEMS syndrome, and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are known to be associated with the disease activity. We herein report a patient with POEMS syndrome who showed left ventricular systolic dysfunction and was treated with lenalidmide therapy. Of note, the reduction in extracellular edema in the left ventricular wall was clearly visualized by changes in the native T1 values and extracellular volumes on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Cardiac Involvement in a Patient With POEMS Syndrome Detected Using Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging

We present a case of POEMS syndrome in which cardiac MRI (CMR) revealed cardiac involvement. POEMS syndrome is a very rare disease and cardiac involvement in POEMS syndrome is rarely reported. In the present case, echocardiography revealed left ventricular hypertrophy with moderately impaired systolic function and moderate pulmonary hypertension. CMR examination showed a typical circular subendocardial type of late gadolinium enhancement, which is a classic pattern of cardiac amyloidosis. The diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis in POEMS would be helpful for further risk stratification and treatment strategies.

POEMS syndrome presenting with acute demyelinating polyneuropathy: increased terminal latency indices and uniform demyelination

We herein report a case of polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome presenting with acute Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)-like features. The patient was healthy, except for mild dilated cardiomyopathy. She was unable to walk within ten days of the onset of weakness. A nerve conduction study (NCS) showed length-dependent, symmetric and non-focal demyelinating features with increased terminal latency indices (TLIs) in the lower limbs. Following the administration of intravenous immunoglobulin infusion, the proximal weakness of the lower extremities improved; however, the pleural effusion was aggravated and ascites newly developed. On further work-ups, splenomegaly, M-protein and sclerotic bone changes were observed. This case suggests that, although rare, POEMS syndrome can present with acute demyelinating polyneuropathy resembling GBS and that characteristic NCS features such as increased TLI and uniform demyelination are helpful for the early diagnosis of POEMS syndrome.

Anaesthetic management of Crow-Fukase syndrome

Crow-Fukase syndrome is a multisystem disorder with anaesthetic risks including prolonged duration of action of neuromuscular blocking drugs. The case of a patient with this syndrome who underwent six separate elective procedures and one urgent surgical procedure is reported. Avoidance of neuromuscular blocking drugs and use of regional anaesthetic techniques are recommended.

Successful treatment of POEMS syndrome complicated by severe congestive heart failure with thalidomide

A 55-year-old woman was diagnosed with POEMS syndrome; however, we could not perform high-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT) because of rapidly progressive congestive heart failure. Thus, we treated the patient with thalidomide plus dexamethasone, which brought about a marked improvement of systolic dysfunction, POEMS syndrome-related symptoms and the serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor. Subsequently, we safely performed high-dose chemotherapy with auto-PBCST. This report strongly suggests that thalidomide is effective for POEMS syndrome, even if complicated by congestive heart failure which is considered to be related to POEMS syndrome.

Scintigraphic evaluation of cardiac metabolism in multicentric Castleman's disease

A 72-year-old woman had insidious onset of heart failure, and was diagnosed as multicentric Castleman's disease. She underwent myocardial imaging with technetium-99m tetrofosmin, 1-123 beta-methyl-iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP). Technetium-99m tetrofosmin studies showed almost normal uptake of the left ventricular myocardium indicating normal myocardial perfusion. 1-123 BMIPP showed reduced uptake in the apical segment of the myocardium, indicating regional fatty acid metabolic abnormalities.

Pulmonary hypertension in POEMS syndrome: a new feature mediated by cytokines

POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes) syndrome is a rare variant of plasma cell dyscrasia with multiple systemic manifestations. We followed the progress of 20 patients with POEMS syndrome in our institution over a 10-yr period. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) was observed in five patients. All patients suffered dyspnea on exertion, which always appeared during an exacerbation of POEMS syndrome. The typical echocardiographic signs of PH were observed in all of these patients, and the median pulmonary-artery systolic pressure was 57 mm Hg (range, 50 to 65 mm Hg). Mean pulmonary-artery pressure during right side heart catheterization in two patients was 32 mm Hg. No other explanation for the PH could be found. Overproduction of cytokines was found in all cases, with high serum concentrations of interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and vascular endothelial growth factor. We suggest that PH should be added to the list of symptoms of POEMS syndrome. Cytokines may mediate POEMS syndrome-associated PH, as proposed for the other systemic manifestations of this disorder.