Acute myopathy during treatment of status asthmaticus
Op de Coul, A.A.; Verheul, G.A.; Timmerhuis, T.P.; Teepen, J.L.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 140(5): 268-271
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 8643135 Document Number: 455155
Two patients with chronic pulmonary disease, a woman of 38 and a man of 54 years old, who had developed a status asthmaticus, had difficulties being weaned from artificial ventilation. They suffered from an acute myopathy caused by a combination of high-dose corticosteroids and muscle relaxants (pancuronium, vecuronium). This acute myopathy is characterised by generalised flaccid quadriplegia with muscle atrophy and areflexia, difficulties being weaned from artificial ventilation, myoglobinuria and high levels of creatine kinase activity in serum. The prognosis is good; almost complete recovery occurs. Muscle biopsy may reveal necrotising myopathy and occasionally, selective loss of thick myofilaments.