[Neuromuscular diseases which lead to respiratory insufficiency]

Some of the neuromuscular diseases may lead to respiratory failure. This is the case in some lesions of the anterior horn cells (poliomyelitis and spinal muscular atrophy), in diseases affecting the nerve roots (acute polyradiculitis and lesions of the C4-roots) or affecting the phrenic nerve. Respiratory failure is frequent in myasthenia and may accompany Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. In each case one has to evaluate the opportunity of respiratory treatment considering all the elements of the disease and of the individual patient.