[Central apnea in newborns].
Three neonates had diverse kinds of central apnoea. The first child, a girl aged 3 weeks, had an upper respiratory tract infection caused by the respiratory syncytial virus; she was intubated and needed ventilatory support for three days. The second patient, a boy of 17 days, had an Arnold-Chiari-malformation with apnoeas treated with a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (acetazolamide). The third patient, a boy of 5 days, had central apnoeas of epileptic origin and was treated with phenobarbital. All three recovered well. If in an infant with apnoeas no paediatric explanation is found, and the child is neurologically at risk, it is advisable to make an EEG to determine if an epileptic substrate is present, even in the absence of motor phenomena.
van Putten
M J
MJ
Afd. Kinderneurologie, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden.
Bosman-Vermeeren
J M
JM
Brouwer
O F
OF
D000086:Acetazolamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001049:Apnea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D004062:DiGeorge Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000086:Acetazolamide; D010634:Phenobarbital