Phrenic nerve palsy as a feature of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy

Abstract

We report four patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) who presented with phrenic nerve palsy, which was unilateral in two instances. The two patients with bilateral phrenic nerve involvement required mechanical ventilation. After treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (i.v.Ig) or steroids, the sensorimotor deficit and respiratory parameters improved in three patients, but the fourth patient remained ventilator dependent and died from pulmonary infection. Although rare, phrenic nerve palsy may be a feature of CIDP and may be responsive to treatment with i.v.Ig or steroids.