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POEMS Syndrome Presenting as Long-term Refractory Ascites
並列摘要
POEMS syndrome is a rare multisystem disease with a wide spectrum of clinical features characterized by polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein production and skin changes. We present a patient who had suffered refractory ascites of unknown etiology for three years. She had sought medical attention at several hospitals because of skin hyperpigmentation, ascites and polyneuropathies. POEMS syndrome was finally diagnosed by bone marrow biopsy. The patient was commenced on thalidomide therapy and remains in a stable condition. This case report is to remind clinicians to consider this syndrome whenever confronting a patient with refractory ascites of unknown cause and with acquired peripheral neuropathy refractory to treatment.