Bilateral isolated phrenic neuropathy causing painless bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis.
The authors report four patients with a syndrome of painless bilateral isolated phrenic neuropathy. Electrophysiologic testing demonstrated active denervation restricted to the diaphragm. Long-term recovery was poor. The authors conclude that bilateral isolated phrenic neuropathy is a cause of painless diaphragmatic paralysis distinguishable from immune brachial plexus neuropathy and other neuromuscular disorders with similar clinical presentation.
Lin
P T
PT
Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. perlin@leland.stanford.edu
Andersson
P-B
PB
Distad
B J
BJ
Barohn
R J
RJ
Cho
S C
SC
So
Y T
YT
Katz
J S
JS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020274:Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000276:immunology; D010146:Pain / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012133:Respiratory Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017211:Treatment Failure
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D011241:Prednisone