Primary Alveolar Hypoventilation Syndrome Complicated with Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Johsuke HARA; Masaki FUJIMURA; Shigeharu MYOU; Yoshitaka ORIBE; Shiho FURUSHO; Masahide YAMAZAKI; Shinji NAKAO

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.44.987

CASE REPORTS

Primary Alveolar Hypoventilation Syndrome Complicated with Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Johsuke HARA, Masaki FUJIMURA, Shigeharu MYOU, Yoshitaka ORIBE, Shiho FURUSHO, Masahide YAMAZAKI, Shinji NAKAO

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Keywords: primary alveolar hypoventilation syndrome, antiphospholipid syndrome, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2005 Volume 44 Issue 9 Pages 987-989

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.44.987

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Abstract

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.

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