Correlation of Clinical and Physiologic Manifestations of Sustained Hyperventilation

THE hyperventilation syndrome, as seen in anxious, tense persons, is characterized by paresthesia of the extremities and circumoral area, sensations of lightheadedness and altered consciousness and occasionally carpal spasm. Previous studies of this condition have demonstrated various metabolic and physiologic abnormalities, which include respiratory alkalosis, changes in serum electrolytes and electroencephalographic alterations.1 2 3 Precise correlations, however, between the clinical manifestations of the spontaneous hyperventilation syndrome and the chemical and physiologic alterations are not always possible since the clinical disorder is often influenced by anxiety and other psychogenic factors. Moreover, the pathogenesis of symptoms in this disorder is poorly understood, many manifestations . . .