POEMS syndrome masquearading as Tuberculosis

Abstract

POEMS syndrome, also called Osteosclerotic myeloma or Takatsuki syndrome or Crow-Fukase syndrome, is a rare multisystemic disease paraneoplastic syndrome under the plasma cell dyscrasias. POEMS is an acronym for Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal protein elevation, and skin changes. It is usually 1.5 times more common in male than female. Patients often present in the fifth to sixth decades of life and have a median survival rate of 8 to 14 years without successful treatment. Here we described a case of POEMS syndrome in a young 30 years old adult who presented with anasarca, polyneuropathy as initial manifestation and masquerading as tuberculosis. He was successfully treated with Melphalan-Dexamethasone therapy with clinical improvement. Therefore, patients with unexplained polyneuropathy especially when it is associated with endocrinopathy, skin changes or oedema, should be evaluated for POEMS syndrome.