Recurrent Critical Illness Myopathy in an Asthmatic Patient Treated with Corticosteroids

We report a case of recurrent critical illness myopathy in an asthmatic patient who was treated for respiratory failure with high doses of intravenous corticosteroids alone without exposure to nondepolarizing neuromuscular-blocking agents. Each episode was followed by substantial symptomatic improvement. Our experience indicates that intravenous corticosteroids should be used with special caution in patients with a history of critical illness myopathy.