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Automatic respiratory failure: sleep studies and Leigh's disease (case report)
J Cummiskey1, C Guilleminault, R Davis
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, CA.
Neurology
|December 1, 1987
Summary
Leigh's disease can cause severe sleep-related breathing problems in adults, even after kidney issues. Brainstem lesions were identified as the cause of respiratory failure in a kidney transplant patient.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Genetics
- Nephrology
Background:
- Adult-onset Leigh's disease is rare and often presents with atypical symptoms.
- Chronic kidney disease and transplantation can complicate the clinical picture.
Observation:
- A 34-year-old female kidney transplant recipient experienced progressive automatic respiratory failure during all sleep stages.
- Neuropathologic examination revealed symmetric brainstem lesions.
Findings:
- Histological analysis confirmed Leigh's disease as the underlying cause.
- Brainstem lesions directly correlated with the observed sleep-related respiratory dysfunction.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering Leigh's disease in adults with unexplained respiratory failure, particularly those with a history of kidney disease.
- Early diagnosis and genetic counseling are crucial for managing Leigh's disease and its complications.