Pathophysiological findings in a patient with Shy-Drager and alveolar hypoventilation syndromes

This report describes the clinical, physiologic and pathologic findings in a patient with alveolar hypoventilation, acquired autonomic dysfunction, parkinsonism, and sensorimotor polyneuropathy. While there were pathologic findings in both central and peripheral nervous systems, there were no morphologic changes in the regions of the brainstem considered responsible for respiratory rhythmogenesis. A hypothesis is developed based on the assumption that the abnormalities in respiratory control which led to the patient's death are explained by abnormalities in the feedback control of respiration.