title: Neuromuscular disorders in the intensive care unit.
abstract: Neuromuscular disorders encountered in the ICU can be categorized as muscular diseases that lead to ICU admission and those that are acquired in the ICU. This article discusses three neuromuscular disorders can lead to ICU admission and have a putative immune-mediated pathogenesis: the Guillian-Barré syndrome, myasthenia gravis, and dermatomyositis/polymyositis. It also reviews critical care polyneuropathy and ICU acquired myopathy, two disorders that, alone or in combination, are responsible for nearly all cases of severe ICU acquired muscle weakness.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, 701 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55415, USA. marin005@tc.umn.edu
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Marinelli
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Leatherman
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy