Diaphragmatic dysfunction as the presenting symptom in neuromuscular disorders: A retrospective longitudinal study of etiology and outcome in 30 German patients.

Diaphragmatic dysfunction is well-known in advanced stages of neuromuscular disorders. However, data on its presence as the presenting symptom in neuromuscular disorders is scarce. The goal of this retrospective longitudinal study was to evaluate the etiology and clinical outcome in patients, in whom uni- or bilateral diaphragmatic dysfunction was primarily diagnosed, before a specific neuromuscular disease was found.