Short communicationPentraxin-3 and VEGF in POEMS syndrome: A 2-year longitudinal study

- VEGF is a diagnostic marker of POEMS syndrome responsible for many symptoms.
- Anti-VEGF therapy fails to treat POEMS syndrome. Other factors might be involved.
- Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), involved in vessel homeostasis, is often associated with VEGF.
- No correlation was found between PTX3 and VEGF levels in POEMS syndrome patients.
- The data confirm the non-inflammatory pathogenic mechanisms of POEMS syndrome.

Circulating Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were measured longitudinally (mean follow-up 2 years) by ELISA in 6 patients with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein, skin changes (POEMS) syndrome and 16 controls. Expression of PTX3 was also assessed (immunohistochemistry) on sural nerve biopsies from POEMS and vasculitic neuropathy patients.No correlation was found between PTX3 and VEGF levels in POEMS or controls.Sural nerve biopsies from vasculitic neuropathy patients, but not those from POEMS syndrome, showed strong PTX3 staining.PTX3, expression of vessel inflammation/remodeling, and VEGF, crucial pro-angiogenic cytokine, appear to be independently regulated in POEMS syndrome.