Ventilatory Control in Parents of Victims of Sudden-Infant-Death Syndrome

Abstract

Since a defective ventilatory-control mechanism may have a role in the sudden-infant-death syndrome (SIDS), and hereditary factors influence the degree of ventilatory drive, we measured ventilatory responsiveness to carbon dioxide with and without increased airway resistance in 12 parents of SIDS victims and 12 control parents matched for age and size. Ventilatory response (delta VI/delta PCO2) and "respiratory drive" (delta P100/delta PCO2) were measured both with and without added resistance to inspiratory flow. SIDS parents had significantly lower ventilatory response with added resistance (P less than 0.05) and without it (P less than 0.01) and significantly lower respiratory drive with added resistance (P less than 0.001) and without it (P less than 0.05). Control parents had significantly increased respiratory drive when the resistance was added (P less than 0.005), whereas SIDS parents did not. The data suggest that a low ventilatory response to carbon dioxide and a diminished compensatory response to increased airway resistance may increase a potential parent's risk of having a child susceptible to SIDS.

Effects of naloxone on apnoea duration during sleep in infants at risk for SIDS

“…The lack of any effect of naloxone on periodic breathing and prolonged apnoeas in infants is in agreement with the results of Schiffman et al [11], who investigated the effect of naloxone on impaired ventilatory control mechanisms in parents of SIDS-victims.…”

Paediatric origins of adult lung diseases bullet 3: The genesis of adult sleep apnoea in childhood

“…Redline et al 91 showed that ventilatory responsiveness to hypoxia and hypercapnia was depressed in family members of OSA patients. In addition, a depressed response to hypoxia has been recorded in the siblings of infants with SIDS92 and also in the parents of SIDS victims 93…”

Stillbirth, Neonatal Death, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

“…Over 100 hypotheses have been formulated and investigated. Some important areas of current research include studies related to prolonged sleep, apnea, chronic oxygen deficiency, and enzyme abnormalities (15,16).…”