Calciphylaxis in POEMS Syndrome: A Case Treated with Etidronate

POEMS syndrome is a plasma cell lymphoproliferative disorder associated with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy and skin abnormalities. We report here a case of calciphylaxis associated with POEMS syndrome. Calciphylaxis is a rare disease presenting as systemic deposition of calcium salts (1, 2). Cutaneous manifestations of calciphylaxis begin as painful, purple-coloured, mottled lesions, similar to livedo reticularis, which eventually progresses to ischaemic necrosis with grey-black eschars and gangrene of the surrounding tissues. As calciphylaxis occasionally leads to sepsis and death, patients with POEMS syndrome should be followed up carefully for the development of calciphylaxis and occurrence of livedo-like skin changes and ulcers.