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 neuronmscular-bloclong 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.