Objective: To delineate and clarify neuromuscular disorders in patients with p robable severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Design: Case series with follo w up ranging from 3 weeks to 2 months. Setting: National ...Objective: To delineate and clarify neuromuscular disorders in patients with p robable severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Design: Case series with follo w up ranging from 3 weeks to 2 months. Setting: National Taiwan University Hosp ital, Taipei. Patients: We investigated 4 patients with SARS who had concomitant neuromuscular problems. A diagnosis of SARS was based on the demonstration of s erum coronavirus antibodies. Clinical presentations, laboratory results, electro physiologic findings, and follow up conditions were determined. Results: Patien ts developed neuromuscular problems approximately 3 weeks after the onset of SAR S. Two women experienced motor predominant peripheral nerve disorders. A man de veloped myopathy and a third woman experienced neuropathy and myopathy. Cerebros pinal fluid obtained from 2 patients with neuropathy disclosed normal protein co ntent and the absence of pleocytosis and SARS coronavirus antibodies. Both patie nts with myopathy had elevated serum creatine kinase levels. A rapid clinical an d electrophysiologic improvement was evident during follow up examinations, wit h a good prognosis. Conclusions: The neuromuscular problems in patients with SAR S are considered to be critical illness polyneuropathy or myopathy, possibly co existent. Further pathological and microbiological studies are necessary to dete rmine the relationship between SARS coronavirus and neuromuscular problems.展开更多
文摘Objective: To delineate and clarify neuromuscular disorders in patients with p robable severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Design: Case series with follo w up ranging from 3 weeks to 2 months. Setting: National Taiwan University Hosp ital, Taipei. Patients: We investigated 4 patients with SARS who had concomitant neuromuscular problems. A diagnosis of SARS was based on the demonstration of s erum coronavirus antibodies. Clinical presentations, laboratory results, electro physiologic findings, and follow up conditions were determined. Results: Patien ts developed neuromuscular problems approximately 3 weeks after the onset of SAR S. Two women experienced motor predominant peripheral nerve disorders. A man de veloped myopathy and a third woman experienced neuropathy and myopathy. Cerebros pinal fluid obtained from 2 patients with neuropathy disclosed normal protein co ntent and the absence of pleocytosis and SARS coronavirus antibodies. Both patie nts with myopathy had elevated serum creatine kinase levels. A rapid clinical an d electrophysiologic improvement was evident during follow up examinations, wit h a good prognosis. Conclusions: The neuromuscular problems in patients with SAR S are considered to be critical illness polyneuropathy or myopathy, possibly co existent. Further pathological and microbiological studies are necessary to dete rmine the relationship between SARS coronavirus and neuromuscular problems.
