Early detection of evolving critical illness myopathy with muscle velocity recovery cycles.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sensitivity of muscle velocity recovery cycles (MVRCs) for detecting altered membrane properties in critically ill patients, and to compare this to conventional nerve conduction studies (NCS) and quantitative electromyography (qEMG). METHODS: Twenty-four patients with intensive care unit acquired weakness (ICUAW) and 34 healthy subjects were prospectively recruited. In addition to NCS (median, ulnar, peroneal, tibial and sural nerves) and qEMG (biceps brachii, vastus medialis and anterior tibial muscles), MVRCs with frequency ramp were recorded from anterior tibial muscle. RESULTS: MVRC and frequency ramp parameters showed abnormal muscle fiber membrane properties with up to 100% sensitivity and specificity. qEMG showed myopathy in 15 patients (63%) while polyneuropathy was seen in 3 (13%). Decreased compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude (up to 58%) and absent F-waves (up to 75%) were frequent, but long duration CMAPs were only seen in one patient with severe myopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Altered muscle fiber membrane properties can be detected in patients with ICUAW not yet fulfilling diagnostic criteria for critical illness myopathy (CIM). MVRCs may therefore serve as a tool for early detection of evolving CIM. SIGNIFICANCE: CIM is often under-recognized by intensivists, and large-scale longitudinal studies are needed to determine its incidence and pathogenesis.

Fulminant lactic acidosis in two patients with Type 2 diabetes treated with metformin.

Lactic acidosis is a known adverse risk of metformin treatment. We report two cases in whom fulminant lactic acidosis developed during treatment. There were no contraindications to metformin treatment and both were admitted with abdominal discomfort for some days, causing dehydration. Both patients had renal failure on admission, developed multiple organ failure and both suffered a massive stroke. One patient died and the other survived but is severely disabled. We suggest, in both cases, that acute renal failure developed as a result of dehydration, causing metformin accumulation and lactic acidosis. We recommend that all patients on metformin should consider discontinuation of metformin treatment in the event of a severe medical condition causing dehydration.

[Multiple organ failure caused by extraadrenal pheochromocytoma]. / Multiorgansvigt på baggrund af ekstraadrenalt faeokromocytom.

Extraadrenal phaeochromocytomas are very rare tumours, commonly associated with hypertensive paroxysms. We report a 20 year-old man with unsuspected extraadrenal phaeochromocytoma, who at admission presented with septicaemia and adult respiratory distress syndrome, suggesting pneumonia.