title: Incidence and risk factors of pleural effusions in patients with POEMS syndrome.
abstract: Information regarding the characteristics of pleural effusions in patients with POEMS syndrome is limited. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence and risk factors of pleural effusions in patients with POEMS syndrome and characterize the pleural fluid biochemistry in those patients. A retrospective review of 96 patients with POEMS syndrome was conducted. The patients were divided into groups with and without pleural effusions. The clinical data were obtained from medical charts. Risk factors were studied with univariate and multivariate analysis. The median age at the time of diagnosis of POEMS syndrome was 45.1 years, and the median disease duration was 30.4 months. Pleural effusions were detected in 41 (42.7%) of the 96 patients. Increased serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), complement component 3 (C3), Lambda light chain, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 levels and low albumin as well as cardiac disease were found to be significantly correlated with pleural effusions. By multivariate logistic regression, independent risk factors for pleural effusions in POEMS syndrome were VEGF [odds ratio (OR): 2.46, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.720-3.414, p = 0.01], TNF-α (OR: 3.64, 95% CI: 1.073-4.338, p = 0.04) and C3 (OR: 3.77, 95% CI: 1.225-3.591, p = 0.02) levels. Pleural effusions are the most common thoracic involvement findings in patients with POEMS syndrome, and all the pleural fluids are exudates. Serum VEGF, TNF-α and C3 levels are identified as important risk factors for presence of pleural effusions in POEMS syndrome.
authors: Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
authors: Rong-Tai
authors: RT
authors: Cui
authors: Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
authors: Sheng-Yuan
authors: SY
authors: Yu
authors: Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
authors: Xu-Sheng
authors: XS
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
authors: Jia-Tang
authors: JT
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
authors: Cheng-Lin
authors: CL
authors: Tian
authors: Department of Hematology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
authors: Li-Ping
authors: LP
authors: Dou
authors: Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
authors: Chuan-Qiang
authors: CQ
authors: Pu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001201:Ascites / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016878:POEMS Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000453:epidemiology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: POEMS syndrome; characteristics; pleural effusions