Acute respiratory failure due to diaphragmatic weakness revealing a polymyositis.
Of the different respiratory disorders that complicate the course of polymyositis, diaphragmatic weakness is one that is seldom described and most often suspected rather than confirmed. We report a case of severe diaphragmatic weakness as a cause of acute respiratory failure revealing a polymyositis. The diaphragmatic involvement was proven by a very low esophageal pressure in response to cervical magnetic stimulation of the phrenic nerve. Corticosteroids and intravenous gammaglobulin, combined with mechanical ventilation, achieved a progressive recovery of diaphragmatic weakness.
Dauriat
Gaëlle
G
Service de Pneumologie et Réanimation Respiratoire, Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Beaujon, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 100 avenue du Général Leclerc, 92110, Clichy, France
Stern
Jean Baptiste
JB
Similowski
Thomas
T
Herson
Serge
S
Belmatoug
Nadia
N
Marceau
Armelle
A
Fantin
Bruno
B
Fournier
Michel
M
Mal
Hervé
H