Control of ventilation in Ondine's curse

Abstract

O N D I N E' S C U R S E, or central alveolar hypoventilation, is a rare condition characterized by marked depression of respiratory drive during sleep. This disorder is believed to result from failure of central chemoreceptors, thought to be located normally in the ventrolateral area of the medulla.' Although there have been numerous reports of CH since the initial well-studied case in 1955, 2 few have concerned patients whose symptoms were present since birth. ~ ~ We report here an evaluation of ventilatory control during sleep in a child with congenital CH.