Epidemiologic survey of patients with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome in Japan

Background: Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare disease characterized by hypoventilation during sleep. This study discusses the first epidemiologic survey of patients with CCHS in Japan. Methods: The first survey was conducted between September and December 2006 and involved 507 registered institutes for pediatric training in Japan. The second survey was conducted between January and April 2007 and involved only those institutes that confirmed diagnosis of CCHS in the first survey or reported on CCHS at a conference during the preceding decade. Results: Thirty‐seven patients with CCHS were reported from 23 hospitals. Patient characteristics were as follows: 18 were male, 19 were female; and age range 4 months to 34 years. Diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms in 37/37 patients; blood gas analysis in 25/37; ventilatory response to inhaled CO₂ in 14/37; and genetic analysis (paired‐like homeobox gene 2B) in 11/37. Complications included Hirschsprung's disease in 13/37 and central nervous system disorders in 15/37. Prognoses were as follows: 3/37 died in hospital, 1/37 remained in hospital, 33/37 were on home mechanical ventilation (died 4/33, survived 29/33), and 0/37 were cured. Ventilation methods included tracheostomy (21/37), use of a nasal mask (9/37), use of a facemask (5/37), and diaphragmatic pacing (1/37). Conclusions: There is currently no consensus on the most appropriate methods for diagnosing and treating patients with CCHS in Japan. More CCHS‐related data need to be collected in the near future in order to enable appropriate diagnosis and management of patients with CCHS.     

Vagal nerve stimulator placement for medically refractory seizures in a child treated with phrenic nerve pacing for congenital central hypoventilation syndrome

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare, idiopathic disorder characterized by a failure of automatic respiration. Abnormalities such as seizure disorder, failure to thrive, and Hirschsprung disease have been associated with CCHS. In this report, the authors discuss the use of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) to treat a medically refractory seizure disorder in a child who had previously undergone placement of bilateral phrenic nerve stimulators for treatment of CCHS. Concomitant use of phrenic and vagal nerve stimulators has not previously been reported in the literature. No adverse reactions were noted with both devices working. Diaphragmatic pacing (DP) was clinically unaffected by VNS. The patient experienced a marked reduction in seizure frequency and severity following vagal nerve stimulator placement. Based on this case, the authors conclude that VNS is a potentially safe and efficacious treatment option for seizure disorder associated with CCHS in patients undergoing DP.     

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome in a full-term baby presenting with repeated extubation failure

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare condition. The main characteristic is respiratory insufficiency during sleep. Patients who have CCHS need varying degrees of ventilation support during sleep, or even all day long, according to its severity. We report a term baby with repeated extubation failure, CCHS and Hirschsprung's disease diagnosed at 1 month of age. This patient was discharged at 5 months old with a home ventilator and reached normal developmental milestones.     

Case reports of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), which occurs in less than 1 in every 50,000 infants and children, is a rare syndrome first noted in literature by Mellins in 1970. Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome is a condition in which the patient loses the drive to breathe during deep sleep and can mimic many diseases. Until recently, CCHS has largely been a diagnosis of exclusion; fortunately, there is now a genetic test available to confirm the diagnosis. The purpose of this article is to discuss the steps taken to confirm the diagnosis of CCHS. In addition to the history of the disease and clinical manifestations, genetics and prognosis of children with CCHS will be discussed. Two cases are presented for illustration of hospital course and preparation for discharge.     

疑难病研究——我国首例先天性中枢性低通气综合征的诊治

报道我国首例先天性中枢性低通气综合症 (CCHS)患儿临床诊治情况。患儿胎龄 36周 ,生后第 1天即发病 ,整个临床过程表现为低通气并致高碳酸血症及低氧血症 ,经机械通气后血气迅速恢复正常 ,撤机或降低呼吸机参数后又出现异常血气 ,导致撤机困难。住院第 6天后发现患儿于醒觉期自主呼吸活动增强 ,睡眠期呼吸活动减弱且无呼吸增快 ,并伴体温波动 ,心律失常及胸骨上窝轻度吸气性凹陷 ,参照国外相关文献 ,最后确诊为CCHS ,并以机械通气治疗至住院第 1 4天家属放弃。     

Kabuki make-up syndrome associated with West syndrome

A Japanese boy with Kabuki make-up syndrome associated with West syndrome is reported. He developed periodic tonic spasms at 6 months of age while his electro-encephalogram also revealed hypsarrhythmia. Although only a few previously reported cases of Kabuki make-up syndrome have been associated with epilepsy, it is likely that epileptic seizures are another primary feature of Kabuki make-up syndrome.     

Cutaneous lesions in the orofaciodigital syndrome]

The term OFD syndrome designates a group of heterogeneous clinical patterns of which seven different types have been described. Type I, or Papillon Léage syndrome, is the most common pattern and the only type in which skin lesions occur. Type I OFD is a sex-linked dominant disorder. Two cases of OFD Type I with cystic lesions of the face are reported herein. The second patient also had polycystic kidneys. This combination has already been reported previously and all children with OFD should be investigated for polycystic kidney disease.     

A case of Kabuki make-up syndrome with EBV+ Burkitt's lymphoma

Kabuki make-up syndrome was first reported in 1981 and is characterized by peculiar facies with post natal growth deficiency and mental retardation. Since the first report, approximately 100 cases have been reported, but there have been no reports of tumor development. A case is reported of a patient with Kabuki make-up syndrome who developed malignant lymphoma in his abdomen at the age of 3 years. The tumor was histologically diagnosed as Burkitt's lymphoma and Epstein-Barr virus was detected by in situ hybridization.     

先天性中枢性低通气综合征四例临床研究

目的 研究先天性中枢性低通气综合征（congenital central hypoventilation syndrome,CCHS）的临床特征,提高对CCHS的认识,以便早期诊断和治疗,提高临床诊疗水平.方法 分析2012年4月至2013年6月收治的反复青紫、高碳酸血症、撤机失败的4例患儿临床资料,经过相关检查,除外可导致低通气的心、肺、神经肌肉功能障碍原发病,并行CCHS主要致病遗传基因Phox2b检测,结合文献,对照CCHS诊断标准.结果 4例患儿均有CCHS典型临床特征：清醒时有足够的通气,睡眠时呼吸频率减慢,通气不足,出现青紫、高碳酸血症,对低通气所致的高碳酸血症和低氧血症无觉醒反应.基因检测均证实存在Phox2b基因突变,2例经予以无创通气治疗,l例3个月大时顺利出院,继续家庭无创通气,1例1个月时出院,家庭监护治疗,随访至今,均生长发育良好.结论 对于持续存在的睡眠状态下通气不足、反复高碳酸血症、撤机失败,而无心、肺、神经肌肉功能障碍原发病,需考虑CCHS,Phox2b基因检测可作为CCHS的重要诊断手段,无创通气治疗可为CCHS患儿提供有效的呼吸支持.     

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome and Hirschsprung's disease

Five cases of the Hirschsprung's disease-congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) association are presented and 41 other published cases reviewed. These children have a distinct pattern of associated features, an equal sex incidence, and a characteristic spectrum of disease severity which suggests that the condition is genetically distinct from other cases of Hirschsprung's disease. While approximately 1.5% of Hirschsprung's disease patients, and 10% of those with total colonic aganglionosis, will have CCHS, up to 50% of CCHS patients will have Hirschsprung's disease. Approximately 20% of CCHS/Hirschsprung patients will also have neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroma, usually multiple. Abnormalities of the eye and autonomic nervous system are also common. The ventilatory abnormality is usually evident on the first day of life. The aganglionosis is also severe, with more than half (59%) of the patients having aganglionosis extending into the small bowel.     

Allgrove syndrome with features of familial dysautonomia: a novel mutation in the AAAS gene

Allgrove syndrome (or triple-A syndrome) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by alacrima, achalasia, adrenal insufficiency (glucocorticoid in the majority of cases) and autonomic/neurological abnormalities. This disease is now known to be caused by mutation in the AAAS gene located on chromosome 12q13. Diagnosis should be readily available when the full-blown features are there, but it becomes less apparent when presentation is atypical or in the evolving process. We present a brother and sister (12 and 19 y old, respectively) born to consanguineous parents of Palestinian origin with Allgrove syndrome. The index patient was erroneously diagnosed to be a case of familial dysautonomia before the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency was made at the age of 7.5 y, while his elder sister had only alacrima from birth and developed achalasia at the age of 15 y. She started to develop early evidence of adrenal disease at the age of 19 y. Both of them had neuroautonomic dysfunction. The diagnosis of Allgrove syndrome was confirmed in these two patients by studying the gene mutation in the family. The sequencing of the AAAS gene in the two patients identified a novel homozygous mutation within intron 5 (IVS5+1G-->A). Both parents as well as all three other children were heterozygous for the same mutation. CONCLUSION: These two cases illustrate the heterogenous nature and the intrafamilial phenotypic variability of Allgrove syndrome.     

先天性中枢性低通气综合征1例并文献复习

目的 提高对先天性中枢性低通气综合征(CCHS)的临床和基因特征的认识。方法 总结分析1例CCHS患儿的临床表现、诊断和基因检测结果,并进行文献复习。结果 男,7月龄。以肺部感染、撤机困难入院。入院肺部感染基本控制撤机后,患儿睡眠状态下出现呼吸浅慢,再次予机械通气,模式为双水平正压通气。患儿觉醒时呼吸活跃,入睡后依赖呼吸机,自主呼吸减慢,潮气量减小,出现CO2储留。同时相关辅助检查排除了原发心、肺、脑、神经肌肉及代谢性疾病,临床诊断为CCHS。取患儿及其父母静脉血行PHOX2B基因序列检测,显示患儿PHOX2B第3外显子存在突变（基因型为20/25）,其父母未检出突变,确诊为CCHS。患儿随访至11月龄,呼吸和循环情况尚平稳。结论 CCHS以觉醒时有充足通气,睡眠状态下通气不足为主要表现,行PHOX2B基因突变分析可确诊CCHS。     

Kniest disease with Pierre Robin syndrome and hydrocephalus

A 3-month-old male infant with clinical and radiological features of Kniest disease is reported. Additional findings were severe Pierre Robin syndrome and external hydrocephalus. The patient was retarded in mental and motor development. He died at 4 months of age from the complications of tracheostomy. The parents were both normal clinically and radiologically, thus the disease in the child was presumably due to a new mutation. The reported familial cases of Kniest disease suggest autosomal dominant inheritance. The differential diagnosis is discussed in detail.     

Hodgkin's disease in association with Down syndrome: a case report

The increased incidence of malignancies, especially acute leukemia, in Down syndrome has been clearly established. The association of Hodgkin's disease with Down syndrome has not been extensively documented, and only a few cases have been reported. We present here a case report of Hodgkin's disease in an 11-year-old female child with Down syndrome. The child presented with a stage IVB nodular sclerotic Hodgkin's disease and died of progressive disease. We also present a brief review of the mechanisms of development of malignancy in Down syndrome.     

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome and Hirschsprung's disease

Five cases of the Hirschsprung''s disease-congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) association are presented and 41 other published cases reviewed. These children have a distinct pattern of associated features, an equal sex incidence, and a characteristic spectrum of disease severity which suggests that the condition is genetically distinct from other cases of Hirschsprung''s disease. While approximately 1.5% of Hirschsprung''s disease patients, and 10% of those with total colonic aganglionosis, will have CCHS, up to 50% of CCHS patients will have Hirschsprung''s disease. Approximately 20% of CCHS/Hirschsprung patients will also have neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroma, usually multiple. Abnormalities of the eye and autonomic nervous system are also common. The ventilatory abnormality is usually evident on the first day of life. The aganglionosis is also severe, with more than half (59%) of the patients having aganglionosis extending into the small bowel.

     

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome in children

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare, lifelong condition wherein control of breathing is abnormal and patients present with symptoms of alveolar hypoventilation. The severity of hypoventilation varies and although most patients present in the neonatal period, late onset cases have been reported. In 2003, it was discovered that mutations in the PHOX2B gene were responsible for CCHS. This gene also plays a role in neural crest cell migration, and many patients present with symptoms of autonomic dysfunction in addition to hypoventilation. The pathophysiology responsible for hypoventilation remains unclear although a unifying hypothesis is that the abnormality is located in areas of the brain involved in integration of chemoreceptor afferent pathways for ventilation. The goal of treatment for CCHS is to ensure adequate ventilation during wakefulness and sleep. A variety of ventilation modalities are available including positive pressure ventilation via tracheostomy, non-invasive ventilation via nasal mask, and diaphragmatic pacing. With close monitoring and support, children with CCHS can be expected to function well in society and have a good quality of life.     

Allgrove综合征病例报告及AAAS基因分析

目的报告1例Allgrove综合征,并对患儿及其父母的AAAS基因进行分析。提请医生认识和正确诊断该疾病。方法描述患儿临床特征和遗传特征,进行生化、内分泌激素、影像学、神经电生理、眼底及泪腺检查。提取基因组DNA,特异性片段扩增、测序进行基因分析。结果7岁女童,因呕吐9个月且渐加重而再次住院。5岁时以低血糖昏迷,皮肤发黑而就诊,诊断为爱迪生病并接受治疗。因频繁呕吐9个月再入院。具有四肢肌腱反射明显亢进,视乳头萎缩、无泪症和贲门失弛缓症。患儿父母为三代以外的姨表亲缘关系。基因分析显示：患儿为纯合子AAA基因第8外显子771位硷基G缺失突变,导致ALADIN蛋白移码突变p．R258GfsX33。患儿父母各携带一条正常和一条异常基因。结论Allgrove综合征临床诊断明确。疾病遗传符合常染色体隐性遗传方式。ALADIN蛋白功能对这一综合征非常重要。临床表型与基因突变位点无显著相关性。     

Multiple neonatal endocrinopathies in McCune–Albright syndrome

Two cases of McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) are reported who presented in the neonatal period with profound failure to thrive, cardio-respiratory distress, precocious puberty and Cushing's syndrome for which both underwent bilateral adrenalectomy. Both girls had also bilateral nephrocalcinosis; in one case that may have been attributed to Cushing's syndrome, but in the second case the cause remained obscure with no obvious abnormality of calcium metabolism. The first girl had hydrocephalus which is uncommon in this condition and the second girl still failed to thrive at the age of 6 years, despite adequate caloric intake and hormonal manipulation. A constellation of other abnormal features are described. These cases illustrate the complexity of MAS which can become a life-threatening or a debilitating disorder.     

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome and hypoglycaemia

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare genetic disorder typically presenting in infants with an impaired automatic control of breathing, particularly during sleep, and often associated with variable patterns of autonomic nervous system dysregulations. We studied three children who had CCHS associated with episodes of severe hypoglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia; we discuss the possible relationship with impaired dopamine-beta-hydroxylase function. CONCLUSION: Hypoglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia might be suspected in children with CCHS presenting with seizures and hyperhydrosis; though, further studies are needed to confirm this association.     

以肺动脉高压为首发表现的先天性中枢性低通气综合征临床特征和基因分析

目的探讨先天性中枢性低通气综合征(CCHS)的临床和基因变异特征。方法分析1例首发表现为不明原因肺动脉高压的CCHS患儿的临床资料,并总结国内外文献中CCHS病例的临床特点、致病机制和基因变异情况。结果11月龄女婴,主要表现为浮肿、尿少、低血压、嗜睡、发绀、抽搐及颅内压增高。B型脑利钠肽、丙氨酸氨基转移酶升高,凝血酶原时间延长。颅脑磁共振示右侧额叶出血;超声心动图示中重度肺动脉高压。靶向捕获二代测序未发现可能的致病基因。采用Sanger法验证示患儿PHOX 2 B基因第3外显子存在多聚丙氨酸重复扩展变异,基因型为20/25。患儿入院后采用无创通气,睡眠时呼吸浅慢、微弱,伴血氧下降;血气分析提示二氧化碳潴留。随后改用夜间无创通气、降肺压药物治疗。复查肺动脉压力明显下降,生命体征稳定。随访至24月龄,夜间只需较低压力水平的无创通气,生长发育无异常。结论对于不明原因的肺动脉高压伴撤机困难患儿,需警惕CCHS。疑诊者应尽早针对CCHS相关基因进行靶向捕获二代测序及PHOX 2 B基因Sanger法验证。早期给予无创通气有望改善预后。