Imaging evidence for renomegaly in patients with POEMS syndrome.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Organomegaly in POEMS syndrome generally refers to the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. This study investigates whether there is a significant difference in kidney sizes in patients with POEMS compared to normal controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Calculated kidney volumes from 77 patients with POEMS syndrome who had undergone imaging by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging were compared to frequency-matched controls. For the POEMS patients and the controls, the volume of each kidney was obtained from a three-dimensional segmentation algorithm. Univariate and multiple variable linear regression models were used to identify any differences in kidney size between normal and POEMS patients.

RESULTS

There was a univariate statistically significant association between disease state and the difference in kidney volume; having POEMS was associated with 16.3 cm(3) greater kidney volume difference compared to control patients, P < .001. Using a multiple variable model and after adjusting for age, sex, and the smaller kidney size, there was a statistically significant association between disease state and the difference in kidney volume; having POEMS was associated with 16.8 cm(3) greater kidney volume compared to control patients, P < .001. There was not an independent statistically significant association between age, sex, or volume of the smaller kidney and the difference in kidney volume.

CONCLUSION

This confirms what is known or suspected clinically, that organomegaly in POEMS includes renomegaly.