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  • Updated 04.22.2024
  • Released 10.11.2004
  • Expires For CME 04.22.2027

Diphtheritic neuropathy

Introduction

Overview

Diphtheritic neuropathy is an acute demyelinating polyneuropathy developing three to five weeks after severe diphtheria infection. It is a biphasic illness with initial bulbar and other cranial nerve involvement followed later by motor weakness in extremities and autonomic dysfunction. Symptoms are caused by an exotoxin, which inhibits protein synthesis and subsequent myelin production. There are a large number of differential diagnoses, the most important being Guillain-Barre syndrome. Diagnostic workup consists of confirming infection and neurophysiological evidence of demyelination. Management is conservative with attention paid to respiration and the airway, which may require mechanical ventilation if significantly impaired.

Key points

• Diphtheritic neuropathy is an acute demyelinating polyneuropathy.

• Latency in development of polyneuropathy varies from two to six weeks.

• Typical presentation is early weakness in bulbar, followed by weakness in trunk, and later weakness in extremities.

• Effective control includes universal immunization with diphtheria toxoid throughout life.

Historical note and terminology

Diphtheritic neuropathy is an acute demyelinating polyneuropathy, which has long been recognized as the most common severe complication of Corynebacterium diphtheriae infection. Diphtheria was recognized in 5th century BC by Hippocrates. The early history of diphtheritic neuropathy was reviewed by Rolleston a century ago (38). A definite relationship between diphtheria attack and subsequent paralysis was demonstrated during epidemics by Chomel in 1743, Ghisis in 1749, and Bard in 1789. The first monograph on diphtheritic paralysis was written by Maingault in 1854. Maingault was followed by other observers. The best known was Trousseau who collected 90 cases. He found paralysis of palate in 70 cases, generalized paralysis in 64 cases, and other symptoms including amaurosis, strabismus, sensory deficits, paralysis of lower limbs, truck, neck, rectum, and bladder (38). The first histological investigation was made by Meyer (28). The last diphtheritic epidemic was investigated in the former Soviet Union from 1990 to 1995 (33). Currently, diphtheritic neuropathy is a rare disease in Western Europe and the United States. However, diphtheria cases, mainly cutaneous, were reported among migrants from Syria and Afghanistan arriving in Germany in 2022 (03). In the last 10 years, most diphtheritic neuropathy cases were reported from India (26; 25; 35; 14; 16).

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