Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in POEMS syndrome:: results in 4 cases

POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, skin changes) syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by a clonal plasma cell proliferation with a monoclonal protein typically small and lambda restricted. Clinically, this syndrome is a multisystemic disease whose major clinical feature is a peripheral polyneuropathy. A specific treatment for this does not exist. We report 4 patients with POEMS syndrome treated with an autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in our centre. All patients had an improvement in neurologic symptoms and other manifestations of the syndrome. The monoclonal component and bone lesions decreased or disappeared. In conclusion, autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an effective therapy in patients with POEMS syndrome.