Acute neuromuscular syndromes with respiratory failure during COVID-19 pandemic: Where we stand and challenges ahead

Respiratory failure due to neuro-COVID

“…We read with interest the review article by Galassi et al about the pathophysiology, presentation, and management of SARS-CoV-2 associated acute neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) resulting in respiratory failure [1] . It was found that the most common acute NMDs due to a SARS-CoV-2 infection and complicated by respiratory failure include myasthenia, Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), and inflammatory myopathy (myositis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathy) [1] .…”

“…We read with interest the review article by Galassi et al about the pathophysiology, presentation, and management of SARS-CoV-2 associated acute neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) resulting in respiratory failure [1] . It was found that the most common acute NMDs due to a SARS-CoV-2 infection and complicated by respiratory failure include myasthenia, Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), and inflammatory myopathy (myositis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathy) [1] . It was concluded that non-invasive monitoring of respiratory muscles could be essential to recognise the onset of respiratory dysfunction in patients with newly evolving or pre-existing NMD during a SARS-COV-2 infection [1] .…”

“…It was found that the most common acute NMDs due to a SARS-CoV-2 infection and complicated by respiratory failure include myasthenia, Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), and inflammatory myopathy (myositis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathy) [1] . It was concluded that non-invasive monitoring of respiratory muscles could be essential to recognise the onset of respiratory dysfunction in patients with newly evolving or pre-existing NMD during a SARS-COV-2 infection [1] . The study is appealing but raises concerns that require discussion.…”

Reply to respiratory failure due to neuro-COVID by Finsterer J et al

“…We were pleased to receive the correspondence from colleagues [1] in relation to our review published in Journal of Clinical Neuroscience [2] . We are grateful to them for the chance to discuss some important issues.…”

“…As for the first point, we would like to clarify that the main purpose of our paper was to explore the pathophysiological events underlying respiratory failure in conditions clinically challenging for neurologists, such as myasthenia gravis (MG), Guillain Barre’ syndrome (GBS) and other acute myopathies with or without rhabdomyolysis or chronic, as myotonic dystrophy (DM1) in the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection, to better handle and manage the acute respiratory distress (ARDS )due to SARS-COV-2 infection [2] , [3] .…”