Recurrent Strokes in Two Patients With POEMS Syndrome and Castleman’s Disease

Paraneoplastic Progressive Vasculopathy as the Presenting Manifestation of Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy or Edema, M-Spike, and Skin Manifestations: A Case Report

“…3 Ischemic stroke occurs in up to 13% of patients diagnosed with POEMS followed for 5 years. 6 A non-inflammatory large vessel vasculopathy is thought to be the cause of stroke.…”

“…1, 2 While ischemic stroke has been reported in patients with POEMS 3 , the cause of stroke in these patients is unclear, and there are very few reports of stroke as the presenting manifestation of POEMS. 4 It is important to recognize ischemic stroke as a presenting manifestation of POEMS since it could help physicians diagnose and treat POEMS early to prevent progression.…”

Cerebral infarction in POEMS syndrome

“…infarction in patients with POEMS syndrome have been reported in the literature. [4][5][6][7][8] However, whether a direct association exists between the diagnosis of POEMS syndrome and development of cerebral infarction remains unclear. Our study aimed to establish such an association and to determine the incidence and risk factors for cerebral infarction in patients with POEMS syndrome.…”

“…Cases of cerebral infarction in patients with POEMS syndrome have been sporadically described in the literature. [3][4][5][6][7][8][11][12][13][14][15][16] There are several theories regarding the potential etiologies, risk factors, and involved vascular territories. Yet, due to the rarity of this syndrome, all such speculation has been based on case reports comprising 1-3 patients and whether a direct association exists between the diagnosis of POEMS syndrome and occurrence of cerebral infarction remains unclear.…”

Recurrent Transient Ischemic Attacks in a Patient with POEMS Syndrome

“…The patient had occlusions of the superior mesenteric and left renal artery at the same time and died a short time later; therefore, the authors suggested that thrombosis is a bad prognostic factor associated with a catastrophic disease course. Garcia et al investigated two patients with POEMS syndrome and recurrent ischemic attacks whose catheter cerebral angiogram findings indicated a nonatherosclerotic vasculopathic process despite the presence of atherosclerotic risk factors [5]. The largest retrospective cohort was reported from the Mayo Clinic by Dupont et al Nineteen of their 208 patients with POEMS syndrome experienced ischemic stroke, and a subgroup analysis of 90 patients among whom nine had a stroke revealed no difference in the vascular endothelial growth factor or IL-6 levels or traditional stroke risk factors (such as age, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and cardiac arrhythmia) between the stroke and nonstroke groups.…”