title: Bilateral isolated phrenic neuropathy causing painless bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. perlin@leland.stanford.edu
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: P-B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Distad
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Barohn
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D011241:Prednisone