Amyloidosis and POEMS syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Treatment options for amyloidosis and polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome have rapidly increased in the past years, but many patients are diagnosed late in the disease course and do not receive state-of-the art therapy.


METHODS
Stem-cell transplantation and novel agents have widened the chemotherapy alternatives available in these disorders and combinations of novel agents with high-dose therapy further improve treatment options. This review covers the main areas of debate in the optimal treatment amyloidosis and POEMS patients, focusing on the implications for everyday clinical practice and management strategies published in the past 36 months.


RESULTS
Insights into treatment strategies are provided in the review. Keys to early recognition of the syndromes are reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
With early diagnosis most patients are therapy candidates. New agents and new application of stem-cell transplantation have dramatically improved outcomes for these previously uniformly poor prognosis disorders.
Chee
Cheng E
CE
Department of medicine, Mayo Clinic, Siebens 6, 200 SW First St, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Dispenzieri
Angela
A
Gertz
Morie A
MA
D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D016878:POEMS Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation
D000477:Alkylating Agents