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1: Neurology. 2008 Nov 18;71(21):1691-5. Epub 2008 Oct 1.
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Comment in:
Neurologic improvement after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in POEMS syndrome.

Kuwabara S, Misawa S, Kanai K, Suzuki Y, Kikkawa Y, Sawai S, Hattori T, Nishimura M, Nakaseko C.

Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. kuwabara-s@faculty.chiba-u.jp

BACKGROUND: Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome is a rare multisystem disorder associated with plasma cell dyscrasia. There is increasing evidence that high-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (Auto-PBSCT) is an efficacious treatment. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the extent and time course of neurologic improvement after Auto-PBSCT in patients with POEMS syndrome. METHODS: Clinical and electrophysiologic findings in nine patients were reviewed. The median follow-up period was 20 months (range, 8 to 49 months). Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Serum VEGF levels rapidly decreased a month after Auto-PBSCT. Within 3 months, neurologic improvement began, and all the patients showed substantial neurologic recovery during the next 3 months. Particularly, three initially chairbound patients regained ability to walk at 6 months. Nerve conduction studies showed significant increases in conduction velocities and amplitudes within 6 months of treatment. At the end of follow-up periods, neuropathy was still improving, and no patients had recurrence of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation results in obvious neurologic improvement within 6 months, presumably by extensive axonal regeneration and remyelination. This therapy could be considered as a first line treatment for patients with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein, and skin changes syndrome with younger onset even if they are tetraplegic.

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PMID: 18832140 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]