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.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aged
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
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Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / complications
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Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / immunology
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Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / physiopathology
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Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / immunology
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Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / physiopathology
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Dyspnea / diagnosis
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Dyspnea / immunology
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Dyspnea / physiopathology
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Electromyography
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Female
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Functional Laterality / physiology
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Humans
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Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Neural Conduction / immunology
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Pain / immunology
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Pain / physiopathology
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Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / complications*
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Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / immunology
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Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology*
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Phrenic Nerve / immunology
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Phrenic Nerve / pathology
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Phrenic Nerve / physiopathology*
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Prednisone / therapeutic use
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Respiratory Paralysis / diagnosis
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Respiratory Paralysis / immunology
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Respiratory Paralysis / physiopathology*
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Treatment Failure
Substances
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents
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Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
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Prednisone