Neuralgic amyotrophy triggered by cytomegalovirus: to be aware of this clinical diagnosis

Abstract

Neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) is a multifocal inflammatory neuropathy. Although the exact etiopathogenesis of the latter is unknown, the literature reports frequent associations with immunological events such as different infectious diseases. Our case reveals a rarely described etiology of NA. NA is mainly a clinical diagnosis. The etiology shown in our case study is interesting for the scientific community, because CMV is an ubiquitous disease. NA is frequently under-recognized and misdiagnosed. This is particularly common in the early phase of the disease, when neurologic signs have not yet developed.

Keywords: Brachial neuritis; Parsonage-Turner syndrome; brachial plexopathy; cytomegalovirus; peripheral neuropathies.