A case of POEMS syndrome whose diagnostic clues were nerve conduction studies and serum immunofixation electrophoresis

Abstract

A 59-year-old man presented with progressive lower-limb weakness and abnormal lower limb sensation over 4 months. Nerve conduction studies showed ulnar nerve demyelination in the forearm of the and severe neuropathy in the lower extremities. Serum protein electrophoresis was unremarkable, but serum immunofixation electrophoresis revealed IgA-lambda gammopathy, leading to the diagnosis of POEMS syndrome. Characteristic neurophysiological findings should prompt immunofixation electrophoresis to diagnose POEMS syndrome.