A case of recurrent pleural effusion: tuberculous pleurisy or other disease? A case report.
- 1Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, 241001, P. R. China.
- 2Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, 241001, P. R. China. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein, skin changes) is a paraneoplastic syndrome caused by a plasma cell proliferative disorder. Although POEMS syndrome can cause polyserous effusions, the report of pleural effusion as the main manifestation is not common. Here, we describe a case of POEMS syndrome misdiagnosed as tuberculous pleurisy due to massive pleural effusion.Case presentation
A 70-year-old man was admitted with chest tightness and was diagnosed with tuberculous pleurisy. Despite receiving anti-tuberculosis treatment, patient exhibited ineffective responses and developed numbness in his lower limbs, indicative of an adverse drug reaction.Adjustment of medication and nutritional nerve treatment yielded no significant improvement. Then he was admitted for the second time three months later. Subsequent auxiliary examinations revealed positive M protein, elevated VEGF(vascular endothelial growth factor), peripheral neuropathy, and endocrine disorders, ultimately confirming the diagnosis of POEMS syndrome.Conclusions
POEMS syndrome can be mainly characterized by pleural effusion. When the cause of pleural effusion is unknown, POEMS syndrome should be suspected.
Related
- Two Case Reports of Drug-Resistant Tuberculous Pleurisy in Children: Thoracoscopic Pleural Biopsy and PCR-Based Drug-Resistance Testing.
- Low‐Titre ANA Late‐Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Presenting With Pleural Effusion and Markedly Elevated Pleural Adenosine Deaminase Mimicking Tuberculous Pleuritis
- Diagnostic Tools Used for Tuberculous Pleural Effusion and Their Association With Treatment Outcomes.
- Tuberculous Cervical Lymphadenitis (Scrofula) Associated with Massive Pleural Effusion in an Immunocompetent Adult: A Rare Presentation of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis Confirmed by GeneXpert MTB/RIF.
- Recurrent Pleural Effusion as the Initial Presentation of T-lineage Lymphoblastic Malignancy in a Child: A Diagnostic Challenge.
BibTeX
@article{ji2026case,
title = {{A case of recurrent pleural effusion: tuberculous pleurisy or other disease? A case report.}},
author = {Yuanhao Ji and Jinsun Yang},
journal = {BMC geriatrics},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12877-026-08053-x},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902170},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A case of recurrent pleural effusion: tuberculous pleurisy or other disease? A case report.
AU - Yuanhao Ji
AU - Jinsun Yang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - BMC geriatrics
DO - 10.1186/s12877-026-08053-x
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902170
AB - Background POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein, skin changes) is a paraneoplastic syndrome caused by a plasma cell proliferative disorder. Although POEMS syndrome can cause polyserous effusions, the report of pleural effusion as the main manifestation is not common. Here, we describe a case of POEMS syndrome misdiagnosed as tuberculous pleurisy due to massive pleural effusion.Case presentation A 70-year-old man was admitted with chest tightness and was diagnosed with tuberculous pleurisy. Despite receiving anti-tuberculosis treatment, patient exhibited ineffective responses and developed numbness in his lower limbs, indicative of an adverse drug reaction.Adjustment of medication and nutritional nerve treatment yielded no significant improvement. Then he was admitted for the second time three months later. Subsequent auxiliary examinations revealed positive M protein, elevated VEGF(vascular endothelial growth factor), peripheral neuropathy, and endocrine disorders, ultimately confirming the diagnosis of POEMS syndrome.Conclusions POEMS syndrome can be mainly characterized by pleural effusion. When the cause of pleural effusion is unknown, POEMS syndrome should be suspected.
SN - 1471-2318
ER -