Normal pregnancy in primary alveolar hypoventilation treated with nocturnal nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation

• Published in: The European respiratory journal Vol. 8; no. 8; pp. 1424 - 1427
• Main Authors: Pieters, T, Amy, JJ, Burrini, D, Aubert, G, Rodenstein, DO, Collard, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Leeds Eur Respiratory Soc 01.08.1995; Maney
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Humans; Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation; Medical sciences; Pneumology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - therapy; Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases; Sleep Apnea Syndromes - therapy; Human; Respiratory disease; Sex; Case study; Pregnancy; Intermittent mandatory ventilation; Treatment; Respiratory failure; Positive pressure; Nose; Primary; Female; Alveolar hypoventilation
• ISSN: 0903-1936; 1399-3003
• DOI: 10.1183/09031936.95.08081424

Nocturnal nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) is increasingly used to treat chronic respiratory failure in a wide variety of conditions (myopathies, Ondine's curse, kyphoscoliosis, etc.) and allows a normal everyday life. Some of these diseases affect women of childbearing age. We report on a young woman suffering from primary alveolar hypoventilation, who presented with limitation of daytime activities, severe oxygen desaturation during sleep, polycythaemia and pulmonary hypertension. These abnormalities completely reversed after a few months of NIPPV applied through a nasal mask. Whilst under ventilatory assistance during sleep, she had an uneventful pregnancy and delivery of a normal baby. We suggest that in selected patients requiring NIPPV, pregnancy can be contemplated with a reasonable level of safety both for the mother and the child, provided that adequate mechanical ventilatory assistance during sleep is maintained throughout pregnancy.