COVID-19 Associated Unilateral Diaphragm Paralysis: A Case Report

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

1 Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center (CRDRC), National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Diaphragm paralysis may be either idiopathic or associated with several medical conditions including viral and bacterial infection. The association of phrenic nerve palsy with viral infections is rare but well-appreciated in several case reports. Neuropathy, both central and peripheral, is a common neurological consequence of COVID-19. Here, we describe a case of diaphragm paralysis in a woman who was admitted to the hospital because of COVID-19 pneumonia. Post-COVID-19 unilateral paralyzed diaphragm was diagnosed with a chest X-ray for her and the disorder was attributed to COVID-19 because no other etiology was found to be associated. So far, phrenic neuropathy and diaphragmatic paralysis in a COVID-19-affected patient have not been reported from Iran.

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