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COVID-19 Associated Unilateral Diaphragm Paralysis: A Case Report
Fahimeh Hassanali1, Kazem Ahmadikia2, Maryam Sadat Mirenayat3
1Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Tanaffos
|August 16, 2023
Summary
This study reports a rare case of diaphragm paralysis in a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia. The condition, diagnosed via chest X-ray, was attributed to the viral infection, highlighting a potential neurological complication.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pulmonology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Diaphragm paralysis can be idiopathic or linked to various medical conditions, including viral and bacterial infections.
- Phrenic nerve palsy associated with viral infections is uncommon but documented in case reports.
- Neuropathy, affecting both central and peripheral nervous systems, is a recognized neurological complication of COVID-19.
Observation:
- A case of diaphragm paralysis is presented in a female patient admitted for COVID-19 pneumonia.
- The patient was diagnosed with unilateral paralyzed diaphragm post-COVID-19.
Findings:
- Diagnostic imaging, specifically a chest X-ray, revealed unilateral diaphragm paralysis.
- The condition was attributed to COVID-19 due to the absence of other identifiable etiological factors.
- This represents the first reported case of phrenic neuropathy and diaphragmatic paralysis in a COVID-19 patient from Iran.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for COVID-19 to cause rare neurological complications such as phrenic neuropathy and diaphragm paralysis.
- Further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms linking SARS-CoV-2 infection to phrenic nerve dysfunction.
- Clinicians should consider diaphragm paralysis in patients presenting with respiratory symptoms post-COVID-19, especially in regions where this complication has not yet been reported.
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