Chronic dyspnea and hyperventilation in an awake patient with small subcortical infarcts.

Johnston, S C; Singh, V; Ralston, H J; Gold, W M · Neurology · 2001

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

A 79-year-old woman presented with chronic dyspnea and hyperventilation. There was no evidence of pulmonary disease. Hyperventilation persisted during sleep and after high-dose administration of a narcotic. A head MRI revealed bilateral medial thalamic infarctions. Central neurogenic hyperventilation was diagnosed in this alert patient. The case may illustrate a role for the thalamus in regulating ventilation, but another small infarct not visible on MRI also could be responsible.

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