TY - JOUR
AU - Law, Sheonagh MacPhail
AU - Scott, Kathryn
AU - Alkarn, Ahmed
AU - Mahjoub, Aisha
AU - Mallik, Arup K.
AU - Roditi, Giles
AU - Choo-Kang, Brian
PY - 2022
DA - April
TI - COVID-19 associated phrenic nerve mononeuritis: a case series
JO - Thorax
DO - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2021-218257
AB - This study characterised the hemidiaphragm elevation on 3-month interval chest X-rays (CXRs) of patients post COVID-19 pneumonia. 467 CXRs were screened; 19 (4.1%) had an elevated hemidiaphragm. There were 15 (3.2%) patients of interest with new hemidiaphragm elevation, persisting on average 7 months post COVID-19 diagnosis. Symptomatic patients underwent diaphragm ultrasound (n=12), pulmonary function test (n=10), muscle function test (n=6) and neurophysiology (n=5), investigating phrenic nerve function. Ultrasound demonstrated reduced/paradoxical diaphragmatic movements in eight; four of eight had reduced thickening fraction. Neurophysiology peripheral limb studies did not support the differential diagnoses of critical illness neuropathy/myopathy. We propose that, in selected patients, COVID-19 may cause phrenic nerve mononeuritis.
PB - BMJ Publishing Group
UR - http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/270616/
KW - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
ER