1. Reversible tetraplegia due to polyneuropathy in a diabetic patient with hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma
- Author
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Kennedy, D. D., Fletcher, S. N., Ghosh, I. R., Coakley, J. H., Monson, J. P., and Hinds, C. J.
- Subjects
Diabetics -- Diseases ,Diabetics -- Medical examination ,Polyneuropathies -- Risk factors ,Polyneuropathies -- Complications and side effects ,Polyneuropathies -- Research ,Quadriplegia -- Causes of ,Quadriplegia -- Diagnosis ,Quadriplegia -- Care and treatment ,Quadriplegia -- Research ,Health care industry - Abstract
Byline: D. D. Kennedy (1), S. N. Fletcher (1), I. R. Ghosh (2), J. H. Coakley (1), J. P. Monson (3), C. J. Hinds (1) Keywords: Key words Critical illness; Diabetes; Sepsis; Neuromuscular disease; Neuropathies; Motor and sensory; Electromyography Abstract: Critical illness polyneuromypathy has not previously been reported as a complication of diabetic coma. We describe a patient with hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma (HONK) complicating gram-negative sepsis in whom persistent coma and profound tetraplegia caused considerable concern. Although, initially, it was feared that the patient had suffered a central neurological complication such as stroke or cerebral oedema, a diagnosis of critical illness motor syndrome (CIMS) was subsequently confirmed neurophysiologically. Profound limb weakness associated with HONK is not necessarily due to a catastrophic cerebral event, rather it may be a result of CIMS, which has an excellent prognosis for full neurological recovery. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Intensive Care, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE, UK Tel.: + 44-1 71-6 01 75 26 Fax: + 44-1 71-6 01 75 26, GB (2) Department of Neurophysiology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE, UK, GB (3) Division of Metabolism, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE, UK, GB Article note: Received: 4 June 1999 Accepted: 22 September 1999
- Published
- 1999