Guidelines for diagnosis and management of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome
Ha Trang, Martin Samuels, Isabella Ceccherini, Matthias Frerick, María Teresa, Jochen Peters, Johannes Schoeber, Marek Migdał, Agneta Markström, G. Ottonello, Raffaele Piumelli, Maria Helena Estêvão, Irena Senečić-Čala, Barbara Gnidovec Stražišar, Andreas Pfleger, Raquel Porto-Abal, Miriam Katz‐Salamon
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome (CCHS) is a rare condition characterized by an alveolar hypoventilation due to a deficient autonomic central control of ventilation and a global autonomic dysfunction. Paired-like homeobox 2B (PHOX2B) mutations are found in most of the patients with CCHS. In recent years, the condition has evolved from a life-threatening neonatal onset disorder to include broader and milder clinical presentations, affecting children, adults and families. Genes other than PHOX2B have been found responsible for CCHS in rare cases and there are as yet other unknown genes that may account for the disease. At present, management relies on lifelong ventilatory support and close follow up of dysautonomic progression. BODY: This paper provides a state-of-the-art comprehensive description of CCHS and of the components of diagnostic evaluation and multi-disciplinary management, as well as considerations for future research. CONCLUSION: Awareness and knowledge of the diagnosis and management of this rare disease should be brought to a large health community including adult physicians and health carers.