Bilateral phrenic neuropathies in a diabetic patient responsive to intravenous immunoglobulin: A case report

Abstract

Introduction Bilateral phrenic neuropathy is an uncommon complication of diabetes mellitus. Case presentation We present a patient with diabetes mellitus who developed dyspnea from diaphragmatic paresis secondary to bilateral phrenic neuropathies on the background of subclinical generalized polyneuropathy documented by electrodiagnostic studies. The patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin with improved diaphragmatic function. Conclusion Phrenic neuropathy is a rare but important complication of diabetes mellitus. We report the first case of the beneficial use of intravenous immunoglobulin in diabetic phrenic neuropathy.