What is POEMS syndrome?

It is a rare and serious chronic hematological condition that produces neurological and organic damage, causing diverse symptoms that can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated promptly.

POEMS syndrome origin is unknown, but it has been identified that those who suffer from it have an excess of plasma cells, which generate large amounts of monoclonal protein that damages various organs.

Signs and symptoms POEMS syndrome

POEMS syndrome, also known as Crow-Fukase syndrome or Takatsuki disease, includes the following conditions and symptoms:

Polyneuropathy:
- Tingling in the upper and lower limbs.
- Difficulty breathing.
Organomegaly:
- Increased volume of organs such as:
  - Lymph nodes.
  - Liver.
  - Spleen.
Endocrinopathy:
- Hypothyroidism.
- Hyperparathyroidism.
- Diabetes.
- Sexual dysfunctions.
- Tiredness.
- Edema.
- Metabolic alterations.
Monoclonal gammopathy:
- Bone anomalies.
- Abnormal antibodies.
Skin disorders:
- Hyperpigmentation.
- Skin thickening.
- Reddish spots.
- Appearance of a greater amount of facial hair.

Diagnosis and treatment POEMS syndrome

It is not easy to diagnose POEMS syndrome because the symptoms can be similar to those of several conditions, so blood tests must be performed to verify hormonal and antibody levels.

POEMS syndrome, being a chronic condition, cannot be cured, so therapy focuses on controlling the symptoms, delaying the progression of the disease, and preventing serious complications through:

Chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy.
Hematopoietic cell transplant.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments

Internal Medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

cun.es
aeped.es
topdoctors.es
middlesexhealth.org
stanfordchildrens.org
mayoclinic.org
medlineplus.gov
medigraphic.com
Herrera-Olivares W, González-Ramírez MF, Flores-Encarnación E. Síndrome POEMS. A propósito de un caso. Rev Esp Med Quir. 2014;19(2):185-191.
Gracia-Ramos AE, Cruz-Domínguez MP, Vera-Lastra OL. Enfermedad de Castleman multicéntrica hialina vascular Una variante de POEMS. Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2013;51(4):464-467.
Valdés ÁK, Senra AL, Aguilar LG. Síndrome de POEMS. Rev cubana med. 2013;52(1):78-84.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is POEMS syndrome?

Signs and symptoms POEMS syndrome

Diagnosis and treatment POEMS syndrome

Related centers and departments

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in POEMS syndrome