Pathological findings in a patient with ventilatory failure and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) may cause significant disability, but severe respiratory complications are uncommon. We describe the case of a 49-year-old man with clinical features of CIDP for 5 years who died of respiratory failure. Post-mortem findings of denervation in diaphragm muscle and axonal loss in phrenic nerve are presented. Severe ventilatory failure may occur in CIDP when neuropathy affects the respiratory muscles. Attention to early clinical features of respiratory insufficiency may facilitate the prevention of more severe features of respiratory failure.