title: Early diagnosis followed by front-line autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for patients affected by POEMS syndrome.
abstract: The acronym POEMS refers to polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, skin changes. This disease is progressive and weakening for patients and lead to death generally for neurological problem without therapy. We treated four patients affected by POEMS syndrome with front-line chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (aPBSCT). After a median follow-up of 40.5 months (range 12-52), all patients are alive with slow but progressive improvement in neurological disease, skin changes, performance status and without evidence of clonal plasmacytosis and organomegaly. In conclusion early diagnosis is crucial to obtain best response and improve clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Haematology Institute, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. l.laurenti@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laurenti
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Matteis
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabatelli
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiusolo
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sorà
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Piccirillo
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Za
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tarnani
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sica
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016878:POEMS Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous