SYNDROME OF EXTREME OBESITY AND HYPOVENTILATION: STUDIES OF ETIOLOGY
Authors: J D HACKNEY, M G CRANE, C C COLLIER, S ROKAW, D E GRIGGS
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1959)

Article1 September 1959SYNDROME OF EXTREME OBESITY AND HYPOVENTILATION: STUDIES OF ETIOLOGYJACK D. HACKNEY, M.D., MILTON G. CRANE, M.D., CLARENCE C. COLLIER, M.D., STANLEY ROKAW, M.D., DONALD E. GRIGGS, M.D., F.A.C.P.JACK D. HACKNEY, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, MILTON G. CRANE, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, CLARENCE C. COLLIER, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, STANLEY ROKAW, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, DONALD E. GRIGGS, M.D., F.A.C.P.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-51-3-541 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe syndrome of extreme obesity, hypoventilation, polycythemia and heart failure has been recognized with increasing frequency since 1955.1-18 The most characteristic cardiorespiratory dysfunction in these patients is hypoventilation, evidenced by an elevated arterial PCO2. The physiologic alteration encountered in patients with the obesity-hypoventilation syndrome implicates excessive breathing work as a cause for the hypoventilation and attendant features. Our studies of 17 patients with this syndrome and our experimental studies on controls support this concept.Hypoventilation frequently accompanies other clinical situations, i.e., emphysema, kyphoscoliosis and ventilatory restriction. 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Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Los Angeles, California*Received for publication May 16, 1959.Presented at the Fortieth Annual Session of The American College of Physicians, Chicago, Illinois, April 23, 1959.From the Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medical Evangelists, School of Medicine and Los Angeles County Hospital, Los Angeles, California.This study was supported by the Attending Staff Association of the Los Angeles County Hospital and grant H-4023 (Cl) from the National Heart Institute of the U. S. Public Health Service.Requests for reprints should be addressed to Jack D. Hackney, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, The College of Medical Evangelists, 1720 Brooklyn Avenue, Los Angeles 33, California. 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