title: Acute myopathy and neuropathy in status asthmaticus: case report and literature review.
abstract: A 38-year-old woman developed acute, severe weakness during the treatment of status asthmaticus that included high-dose intravenous corticosteroids. A muscle biopsy and EMG indicated a myopathy, and nerve conduction studies disclosed a neuropathic component. In association with corticosteroid tapering, the clinical, EMG, and nerve conduction abnormalities resolved. In some patients, intensive treatment of status asthmaticus may cause a reversible, toxic disorder of muscle and nerve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01655.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lacomis
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Chad
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013224:Status Asthmaticus / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*