Ventilatory Control in Parents of Victims of Sudden-Infant-Death Syndrome

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Abstract
Since a defective ventilatory-control mechanism may have a role in the sudden-infant-death syndrome (SIDS), and hereditary factors influence the degree of ventilatory drive, we measured ventilatory responsiveness to carbon dioxide with and without increased airway resistance in 12 parents of SIDS victims and 12 control parents matched for age and size. Ventilatory response (ΔV̇1/ΔPCO2) and "respiratory drive" (ΔP100/ΔPCO2) were measured both with and without added resistance to inspiratory flow. SIDS parents had significantly lower ventilatory response with added resistance (P<0.05) and without it (P<0.01) and significantly lower respiratory drive with added resistance (P<0.001) and without it (P<0.05). Control parents had significantly increased respiratory drive when the resistance was added (P<0.005), whereas SIDS parents did not. The data suggest that a low ventilatory response to carbon dioxide and a diminished compensatory response to increased airway resistance may increase a potential parent's risk of having a child susceptible to SIDS. (N Engl J Med. 1980; 302:486–491.)