Primary alveolar hypoventilation syndrome complicated with antiphospholipid syndrome.
A 32-year-old woman was transported to our hospital by ambulance because of loss of consciousness and breathing induced by drug intoxication. After general status was recovered, her arterial blood gas analysis under breathing room air revealed hypercapnia and hypoxemia which were caused by hypoventilation. After exclusion of apparent pulmonary, neuromuscular and central nerve diseases, she was diagnosed with primary alveolar hypoventilation syndrome. She had the complication of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), suggesting the possibility of small lesions of the brainstem due to APS, which were too small to be detected on CT or MRI; these small lesions could cause injuries to the respiratory center.
Hara
Johsuke
J
Respiratory Medicine, Cellular Transplantation Biology, Kanazawa Graduate University School of Medicine, Japan.
Fujimura
Masaki
M
Myou
Shigeharu
S
Oribe
Yoshitaka
Y
Furusho
Shiho
S
Yamazaki
Masahide
M
Nakao
Shinji
S
D000328:Adult; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D012125:Respiratory Center / Q000473:pathology; D020182:Sleep Apnea, Central / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013577:Syndrome