Critical illness neuro-myopathy (CINM) and focal amyotrophy in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with SARS-CoV-2: a case series

Nicola Alessandro Nasuelli; Roberto Pettinaroli; Laura Godi; Claudio Savoini; Fabiola De Marchi; Letizia Mazzini; Federico Crimaldi; Aline Pagni; Cleta Patrizia Pompa; Davide Colombo

doi:10.1007/s10072-020-04820-9

Critical illness neuro-myopathy (CINM) and focal amyotrophy in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with SARS-CoV-2: a case series

Neurol Sci. 2021 Mar;42(3):1119-1121. doi: 10.1007/s10072-020-04820-9. Epub 2020 Oct 13.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, ASL NO, Borgomanero Hospital, Viale Zoppis 10, Borgomanero, 28021, Novara, Italy. nasuellinicola@gmail.com.
² Department of Neurology, ASL NO, Borgomanero Hospital, Viale Zoppis 10, Borgomanero, 28021, Novara, Italy.
³ Department of Physical Therapy, ASL NO, Borgomanero Hospital, Novara, Italy.
⁴ Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, Novara, Italy.
⁵ Intensive Care Department, ASL NO, Borgomanero Hospital, Novara, Italy.

Abstract

We found four patients with some characteristic phenotype in our ICU, characterized by focal hypotrophies of the shoulder girdle and the bilateral peroneal district and underlying critical illness neuro-myopathy. In our opinion, these hypotrophies are secondary to the prone position. Is our intention to start early treatment protocol with electrostimulation to evaluate the effectiveness in the prevention of critical illness and focal hypotrophies in ICU SARS-CoV-2 patients, to increase chances of returning to a preinfection functional status.

Keywords: COVID-19; Critical illness neuro-myopathy; Intensive care unit; Pandemic; Sars-CoV-2.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged
COVID-19 / complications*
Female
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Male
Middle Aged
Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
Muscular Diseases / virology*
Polyneuropathies / virology*
Prone Position
SARS-CoV-2