title: Melnick-Needles syndrome with obstructive sleep apnea successfully treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure ventilation.
abstract: Melnick-Needles syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by short stature, prominent forehead, bilateral exophthalmos, fullness of the cheeks and retrognathia. We report a 31-year-old female with Melnick-Needles syndrome complicated with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Polysomnography demonstrated a respiratory disturbance index of 76.8/hour. Severe restrictive ventilatory impairment was also evident on pulmonary function tests. Surgical correction of the upper airway failed to improve OSAS symptoms, but nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ventilation successfully improved both OSAS and restrictive ventilatory impairment. OSAS should be excluded in patients with Melnick-Needles syndrome and, if diagnosed, nasal CPAP may be a helpful treatment.
authors.affiliation: Sleep Center, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Chou-Chin
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Ki-Fong
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Yu-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Shih-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ning-Hung
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010009:Osteochondrodysplasias / Q000150:complications*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*