Background: Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome is a rare plasma cell dyscrasia, which could be presented as treatment-resistant polyneuropathy before the emergence of other
systemic complications.
Case Presentation: A 43-year-old male patient presented with progressive lower limb weakness and difficulty in walking, in addition to erectile dysfunction. After the diagnosis of POEMS syndrome, the patient was treated according to the standardized chemotherapeutic regimen for multiple myeloma that includes lenalidomide, without considering the increased risk of thromboembolic complications given that the patient had decreased ambulation due to his polyneuropathy and polycythemia. This warrants a better treatment regimen for these patients to eliminate any possible episode of thromboembolic complications, which might become fatal in the future.
Conclusion: Although rare, it was recommended that deep vein thrombosis risk and its link to the proper treatment plan in patients with POEMS syndrome should be studied further.
Key words: Case report, POEMS, polyneuropathy, thromboembolic, polycythemia, lenalidomide
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