title: Obesity hypoventilation syndrome in a 12-year-old child requiring therapeutic phlebotomy: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: The childhood obesity epidemic involves unusual and underrecognized complications associated with this clinical and public health problem. Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is defined as the triad of obesity, daytime hypoventilation, and sleep-disordered breathing in the absence of an alternative neuromuscular, mechanical or metabolic explanation for hypoventilation. We herewith report a 12-year-old boy who was diagnosed with OHS. The patient improved with phlebotomy and bi-level positive airway pressure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of secondary polycythemia due to OHS requiring therapeutic phlebotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University Children's Hospital, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: G Wesley
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Branstiter
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University Children's Hospital, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Nathaniel L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Lempert
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University Children's Hospital, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Talia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sotomayor
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University Children's Hospital, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Ofelia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Crombet
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University Children's Hospital, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University Children's Hospital, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Kamakshya P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Patra
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010845:Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018962:Phlebotomy; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration
keywords: obesity; obesity hypoventilation syndrome; positive airway pressure; secondary polycythemia; therapeutic phlebotomy