Cheyne-Stokes respiration: Stability of interacting systems in heart failure

Cheyne-Stokes respiration, a breathing pattern found in patients with heart failure, is characterized by periodic changes in ventilation. This pattern of breathing is also associated with oscillations in the arousal state, blood oxygen level, carbon dioxide blood level, and the blood pressure. Although originally described as an irregular breathing pattern or an unstable breathing pattern, Cheyne-Stokes respiration may be quite stable for prolonged periods of time. This breathing pattern may represent a clinical disorder in which disease results in a low-frequency oscillation of the system. Treatment that either reduces or abolishes the oscillation results in clinical improvement because of reduced oscillation of the systems whose function is linked to the changes in ventilation.