Sleep apnea and hypoventilation syndrome associated with acquired nonprogressive dysautonomia: Clinical and pathological studies in a child

Yitzchak Frank, Richard E. Kravath, Kiyoharu Inoue, Asao Hirano, Charles P. Pollak, Roger N. Rosenberg, Elliot D. Weitzman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

A 6‐year‐old girl had subacute onset of hypoventilation and apnea during sleep. Diffuse dysautonomic changes were identified, including dilated, nonreactive pupils, decreased tearing and sweating, and abnormal temperature and cardiovascular control. All‐night polysomnographic studies revealed frequent obstructive and central sleep apnea episodes. Her serum contained cytotoxic antineuroblastoma immunoglobulins. She died two years later during sleep. The general pathological examination revealed a ganglioneuroma originating in the sympathetic ganglia. Abnormalities in the brain were confined to the brainstem and consisted of complete loss of neurons with severe fibrillary gliosis in the region of the Edinger‐Westphal nuclei as well as loss of neurons with gliosis in the locus ceruleus and in the reticular formation bilaterally.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)18-27
Number of pages10
JournalAnnals of Neurology
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1981

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

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