Comprehensive Guide To The Symptoms Of POEMS Syndrome

Organomegaly

The 'O' in POEMS stands for organomegaly or the enlargement of one or more organs. The most common organ to become enlarged in POEMS syndrome is the liver. This is referred to as hepatomegaly and around sixty-six percent of individuals with POEMS syndrome will develop it. Around thirty-three percent of individuals with POEMS syndrome will develop an enlarged spleen or splenomegaly. The enlargement and disease of the lymph nodes or lymphadenopathy may also occur in POEMS syndrome patients, however, it is much rarer than hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Symptoms an individual with an enlarged liver may experience are fatigue, nausea, vomiting, feeling full, pain in the abdomen, and jaundice. An enlarged spleen typically will not cause any symptoms, but it can lead to complications such as reduced numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood. This can result in frequent infections and increased severity of bleeding. In addition, an enlarged spleen is at more of a risk of rupturing. Swollen lymph nodes as a result of POEMS syndrome can cause symptoms such as pain and tenderness in the lymph nodes, and lymph nodes that feel harder and larger than normal. Complications that can occur as a result of this include the formation of an abscess and an infection in the bloodstream.

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