[Neurochristopathy in the differential diagnosis of newborn's apnea: case report].
OBJECTIVE
to include neurocristopathy on the etiological workup of neonatal apneas and discuss the importance of polysomnography in this diagnosis.


METHODS
case report and critical review of the literature.


RESULTS
we report on a newborn that presented respiratory failure in the first hours of life associated to abdominal distention. Continuous ventilatory support was necessary, and the respiratory distress increased during sleep. After polysomnographic confirmation of hypoventilation the newborn was submitted to neuroradiolgic tests and colon byopsy, positive to Hirschsprung's disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Neurocristopathy syndrome can have many different clinical expression, and sometimes the syndrome can be misdiagnosed. Polysomnography confirms central hypoventilation. This diagnosis should be considered in the newborn's persistent apnea workup.
Nunes
M L
ML
Hospital São Lucas, Faculdade de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
Fiori
H H
HH
Holzhey
C
C
D006627:Hirschsprung Disease / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009432:Neural Crest; D017286:Polysomnography; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*