A unique syndrome consisting of episodic hyperpnea, abnormal eye movements, ataxia and mental retardation, associated with agenesis of the cerebellar vermis, has been delineated in four siblings by Joubert et al. (1969). We describe three other children with this clinically recognizable condition which we suggest to call Joubert syndrome. There is good evidence that it is inherited as autosomal recessive. Two of out patients were brothers, the third child's parents were related. Recognition of this syndrome is important in view of prognosis and for genetic counseling.

To our knowledge, only 10 cases of Joubert syndrome have been published so far. In this paper, we describe the clinical, radiological (computerized tomography) and polygraphic findings in an additional patient. The female presented here is the product of consanguineous parents and a sibling of a previously reported infant. In addition to the well-known episodic tachypnea in an awake state, representing the clinical hallmark of this syndrome, this child also had bouts of tachypnea while asleep. Interestingly enough, these were confined only to non-REM sleep.

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Presentation of the author’s series (87 cases) of acquired cerebral arterial occlusion in childhood. In the majority of the cases the etiology is unknown. Vasculitis represents a rare category. Follow-up revealed a poor outcome: 11% died, 90% of the survivors are severely disabled.

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