Improvement in Gonadotropin Secretion after Corticosteroid Therapy in a Case of POEMS Syndrome

Abstract

We report a case of POEMS syndrome with various endocrine dysfunctions. A 49-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for pretibial edema and general fatigue. He had weakness of the lower extremities, hepatomegaly, monoclonal protein (IgG-λ type), impotence, pigmentation and hypertrichosis. Endocrinological examination revealed impaired glucose tolerance, primary hypothyroidism and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. After three months of treatment with corticosteroids, he showed an improvement in gonadotropin secretion, but no considerable change in the secretion of the other hormones. To our knowledge, this is the first case that showed an improvement in gonadotropin secretion as a result of corticosteroid therapy in POEMS syndrome.