title: Hemidiaphragmatic paralysis caused by cervical herpes zoster.
abstract: Although herpes zoster virus usually affects sensory nerves, it can also damage motoneurons. Injury to the phrenic nerve has been described previously, but only anecdotally. We report on a case of left hemidiaphragmatic paralysis with severe axonal degeneration secondary to cervical herpes zoster, and describe its clinical, radiological, pulmonary function and electromyographic evolution during an 18-month follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario La Fe, Servicio de Neumología, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perpiña
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alfaro
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology; D010791:Phrenic Nerve; D012133:Respiratory Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir