title: An autopsy case of POEMS syndrome with a high level of IL-6 and VEGF in the serum and ascitic fluid.
abstract: A 45-year-old woman was hospitalized because of systemic edema and peripheral nerve impairment. The patient had complications of organomegaly, endocrinopathy, and monoclonal gammmopathy, and was diagnosed with POEMS syndrome based on these characteristic signs and symptoms. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in the serum and ascitic fluid were high. Many of the patient's symptoms were ameliorated, and IL-6 and VEGF levels in the serum and ascitic fluid decreased slightly during chemotherapy, but she died of respiratory failure. Autopsy revealed severe systemic edema and macroscopic hemorrhage in many organs, but VEGF and IL-6 producing cells were not found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine Osaka City University, Osaka.
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minamitani
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohfuji
authors.forename: Shuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishiguchi
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiomi
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogami
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohsawa
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hino
mesh_terms: D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D001344:Autopsy; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016878:POEMS Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors