Critical illness polyneuropathy

Critical illness polyneuropathy is a self-limited acute axonal neuropathy that develops during treatment of severely ill patients and remits spontaneously once the critical condition is under control. Clinical manifestations include muscle weakness and atrophy, delayed weaning from the respirator, and prolongation of the mobilization phase. The pathogenesis is not understood in detail but most authors assume that the inflammatory cascade that mediates the systemic inflammatory response and multiple organ failure play a pivotal role. This review summarizes current knowledge of this common neuropathic complication during intensive care treatment. Curr Opin Neurol 14:649-653. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.