Ventilatory response to CO2 in infants with alleged sleep apnoea.

Twenty-eight children whose parents reported sleep apnoea were investigated. In 15 infants apnoeic periods during sleep could be confirmed during clinical observation. Ventilatory responses to CO2 were measured in all infants, in 23 during sleep in 5 only when awake. A very wide range of CO2 sensitivities was found. In four children there was no ventilatory response or even a paradox one: a decrease in ventilation as PACO2 was increased. Two of these non-responding children died later, one still sleeps in a respirator aged three, and one developed a normal CO2 sensitivity a few months later. It is concluded that the parent's account of an apnoeic incident during sleep is not always reliable. A ventilatory response to CO2 is a useful tool with which to identify infants at risk of death, possibly related to a defective control of ventilation. The actual value of the CO2 sensitivity hardly gives any useful information, due to the wide range of "normal" reactions. No or negative ventilatory responses to CO2 seem to be indicators of high risk children, and may possibly play a role in SIDS incidents.