Synonyms of POEMS Syndrome- Crow-Fukase Syndrome
- PEP Syndrome
- poem's
- Polyneuropathy-organomegaly-endocrinopathy-M protein-skin lesions
- Polyneuropathy-organomegaly-endocrinopathy-M protein-skin lesions
- Shimpo syndrome
- Takatsuki syndrome
Disorder Subdivisions
General DiscussionPOEMS syndrome is an extremely rare multisystem disorder. POEMS is an acronym that stands for (P)olyneuropathy, disease affecting many nerves; (O)rganomegaly, abnormal enlargement of an organ; (E)ndocrinoapthy, disease affecting certain hormone-producing glands that help to regulate the rate of growth, sexual development, and certain metabolic functions (endocrine system); (M)onoclonal gammopathy or M proteins; and (S)kin defects. Common symptoms include progressive weakness of the nerves in the arms and legs, an abnormally enlarged liver and/or spleen (hepatosplenomegaly), abnormally darkening of the skin (hyperpigmentation) and excessive hair growth (hypertrichosis). Endocrine abnormalities such as failure of the ovaries and testes (gonads) to function properly (primary gonadal failure) and diabetes mellitus type I may be present. Specific endocrine abnormalities associated with POEMS syndrome vary from case to case. Other important features of the disease include swelling around the optic nerve (papilledema), abnormal fluid retention, which may occur in the ankles (edema), the abdominal cavity (ascites), or around the lungs (pleural effusions), painless scars on bone x-ray (osteosclerosis), and an elevated platelet count (a blood cell responsible for clotting). Some patients may also have abnormalities in the lung function tests, which may not be noticed because of their inability to walk well due to their neuropathy.
POEMS syndrome is associated with a group of disorders known as monoclonal gammopathies or plasma cell dyscrasias. These disorders are characterized the uncontrolled growth of a single clone (monoclonal) of plasma cells, which results in the abnormal accumulation of M-proteins (also known as immunoglobulin M or IgM) in the blood. M-proteins are supposed to fight foreign substances in the body such as viruses and bacteria, but researchers suspect that they play a role in the development of POEMS syndrome. However, the specific role M-proteins play and the exact cause of POEMS syndrome is unknown. Research would suggest that a chemical called VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) plays an important role in this disease.
Organizations related to POEMS Syndrome- American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
22100 Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe MI 48021
Phone #: 586-776-3900
800 #: 800-598-4668
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.aarda.org/
- AutoImmunity Community
None
None None None
Phone #: (91-9) -552-9057
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://autoimmunitycommunity.org
- Jack Miller Center for Peripheral Neuropathy
University of Chicago
Chicago IL 60637
Phone #: 773-702-5800
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://millercenter.uchicago.edu
- NIH/Developmental Endocrinology Branch
Bldg 10, Room 10N262
Bethesda MD 20892
Phone #: 301-496-4686
800 #: --
e-mail: N/A
Home page: N/A
- NIH/National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda MD 20892-3675
Phone #: 301-495-4484
800 #: 877-226-4267
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
31 Center Drive
Bethesda MD 20892-2540
Phone #: 301-496-5751
800 #: 800-352-9424
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
- Neuropathy Association
60 East 42nd Street
New York NY 10165
Phone #: 212-692-0662
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.neuropathy.org
For a Complete Report
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ? (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html