Abnormal breathholding in association with carotid body dysfunction mimicking sleep apnea.
Apneic episodes lasting as long as 126 s were observed in a previously well 22-yr-old woman and were felt to result from voluntary breathholding superimposed on a blunt hypoxic ventilatory drive secondary to carotid body dysfunction. Distinguishing features between this life-threatening voluntary apnea, sleep apnea, and nonconvulsive epilepsy are discussed as well as a theoretical review of breathholding per se.
D000328:Adult; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D002344:Carotid Body; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology