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Bilateral vocal fold palsy caused by chronic motor axonal neuropathy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

H. Marchant ,
F. Supiot ,
G. Choufani  and
S. Hassid
H. Marchant
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology–HNS, Erasmus Hospital, ULB, Brussels, Belgium.
F. Supiot
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Erasmus Hospital, ULB, Brussels, Belgium.
G. Choufani
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology–HNS, Erasmus Hospital, ULB, Brussels, Belgium.
S. Hassid
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology–HNS, Erasmus Hospital, ULB, Brussels, Belgium.
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Abstract

The authors report a first case of chronic motor axonal neuropathy involving ENT manifestations, in a 64-year-old male presenting with gait difficulties, effort dyspnoea and dysphonia. Eleven months after the first symptoms, he developed severe hypoventilation, limb weakness and bilateral vocal fold palsy and had to be intubated for respiratory failure. The diagnosis of chronic motor axonal neuropathy was suspected on clinical and electrophysiological grounds. The patient improved dramatically after a five-day course of 0.4 g/kg intravenous immunoglobulin. He is still being treated with methylprednisolone 0.5 mg/kg every other day and remains stable.

We conclude the bilateral vocal fold palsy may be associated with chronic motor axonal neuropathy and that the immunosuppressive treatment may be effective in such cases.

Keywords

Vocal FoldMotor NeuronesDysphoniaDyspnoea
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 117 , Issue 5 , May 2003 , pp. 414 - 416
Copyright
© Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited 2003

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