HYPOVENTILATION, CYANOSIS AND POLYCYTHEMIA IN A THIN MAN.
A lack of respiratory centrogenic drive of undetermined origin is a rare cause of cyanosis. In this condition, voluntary hyperventilation restores arterial oxygen saturation to normal. Secondary changes consist of polycythemia, somnolence, headache and right heart failure. The present report of a 43-year-old thin man with idiopathic alveolar hypoventilation is combined with a review of 12 similar patients reported by others. His resting oxygen saturation increased from 60% to 98% with hyperventilation. The pulmonary artery pressure was 68/26 mm. Hg and cardiac output 12.3 l./min. Death resulted from pulmonary infarction, and no specific abnormalities were found in the brain.
D003490:Cyanosis; D006261:Headache; D006333:Heart Failure; D006801:Humans; D006985:Hyperventilation; D007040:Hypoventilation; D008297:Male; D008614:Meperidine; D011086:Polycythemia; D011665:Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes; D013851:Thinness; D014116:Toxicology
D008614:Meperidine
CYANOSIS; HYPERVENTILATION; MEPERIDINE; POLYCYTHEMIA; RESPIRATORY INSUFFICIENCY; THINNESS; THORACIC RADIOGRAPHY; TOXICOLOGIC REPORT