title: [Preliminary study of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in patients with POEMS syndrome].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT) after high dose melphalan in patients with POEMS syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine patients including 6 males and 3 females received 10 auto-PBSCT after high dose melphalan in our hospital from June 2005 to October 2009. The median age at transplantation was 44 (39 - 48) years. The median time from onset of disease to transplantation was 12 (5 - 60) months. Peripheral stem cells were mobilized by G-CSF alone in one patient and 8 patients by G-CSF plus chemotherapy. Two patients were conditioned by melphalan 140 mg/m(2) and 7 by melphalan 200 mg/m(2). The median number of MNC was 3.75 (1.05 - 8.33) × 10(8)/kg, and that of CD34(+) cell was 5.37 (1.32 - 10.90) × 10(6)/kg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One patient received tandem auto-PBSCT and others received single one. Stem cell engrafted in all but 1 patient who died of severe infection and acute renal failure on day 9 after transplantation. Eight patients were evaluable for response. The median time to ANC ≥ 0.5 × 10(9)/L and platelet ≥ 20 × 10(9)/L was 10 (9 - 11) and 11.5 (9 - 14) days respectively. Two patient reached negative immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) after stem cell mobilization and transplantation respectively, and the other 6 remained IFE postive after auto-PBSCT. Skin changes and edema of lower extremities were improved in 5 of 6 patients, lymphadenopathy relieved in 1 and papilledema improved in 2 of 3 patients. All but 1 patient achieved gradual neurologic improvement after transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PBSCT is an effective and safe therapy for POEMS syndrome patients with low treatment related mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, CAMS, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Ming-Hui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Dao-Bin
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tie-Nan
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ti
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019650:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization; D006801:Humans; D008558:Melphalan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016878:POEMS Syndrome; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
chemical_list: D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D008558:Melphalan