HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Caswell, R. Articles by Ginsberg, L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Caswell, R. Articles by Ginsberg, L.

POEMS syndrome

¹ Department of Neurology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
² Department of Haematology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence:
Dr L Ginsberg, Department of Neurology, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London, UK;
Lionel.Ginsberg@royalfree.nhs.uk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

A man in his forties was admitted to hospital with lower limb weakness and numbness. Symptoms had started four weeks earlier with pins and needles in the soles. Weakness and numbness had then ascended symmetrically, also affecting both hands. At the time of admission he was unable to walk but swallowing was normal and there were no respiratory symptoms. He had recovered from an upper respiratory tract infection three weeks before the onset of his neurological symptoms. There was also a recent history of impotence not previously investigated. Bladder and bowel function were normal. He had no significant past medical history, and no history of neck or back pain.

Examination and initial investigations

The cranial nerves were normal. There was predominantly distal weakness, more marked in the legs, MRC grade 3/5. He had absent tendon reflexes, down going plantar responses, and "glove and stocking" sensory loss to pain, light touch, vibration, and joint position . . . [Full text of this article]