Journal of neurology
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Journal of neurology · Nov 2001
ReviewNeurological complications of sepsis: critical illness polyneuropathy and myopathy.
Sepsis may cause not only failure of parenchymal organs but can also cause damage to peripheral nerves and skeletal muscles. It is now recognized that sepsis-mediated disorders of the peripheral nerves and the muscle, called critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) and critical illness myopathy, are responsible for weakness and muscle atrophy occurring de novo in intensively treated patients. CIP represents an acute axonal neuropathy that develops during treatment of severely ill patients and remits spontaneously, once the critical condition is under control. ⋯ Specific therapies have not been discovered. Stabilization of the underlying critical condition and elimination of sepsis appear to be of major importance. Steroids and muscle relaxants should be avoided or administered at the lowest dose possible.