Congenital central hypoventilation and sleep state.

ABSTRACT

Congenital central hypoventilation (Ondine's curse) is described in an infant with persistant symptoms throughout the first nine months of life. Respiratory control was most severely affected in quiet sleep, although abnormalities were present in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and while awake. Failure of metabolic control in quiet sleep led to profound hypoventilation. Behavioral or "behavioral-like" inputs in the awake state and REM sleep increased ventilation, but not to expected normal levels. The ventilatory response to inhaled 4% CO2 was markedly depressed in all states.