title: Thrombocytosis distinguishes POEMS syndrome from chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal plasma cell disorder, and skin changes) syndrome may be mistaken for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Differentiating the 2 entities is crucial, as there are major treatment implications.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared platelet counts in 136 POEMS patients and 67 CIDP controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the patients with POEMS, 53.7% had thrombocytosis, compared with 1.5% of those with CIDP (P < 0.0001). The median platelet count in patients with POEMS was 467,000/μl compared with 275,000/μl in those with CIDP (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thrombocytosis is a helpful indicator to prompt clinicians to consider the diagnosis of POEMS syndrome in patients who are thought to have CIDP, and is an important reminder of the increased risk of thrombotic events in POEMS syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Division of Peripheral Nerve, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street SW, Minnesota, 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Naddaf
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dispenzieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mandrekar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Division of Peripheral Nerve, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street SW, Minnesota, 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mauermann
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016878:POEMS Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020277:Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013922:Thrombocytosis / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: CIDP; POEMS syndrome; monoclonal gammopathy; polyradiculoneuropathy; thrombocytosis