Chronic Hyperventilation Syndrome

The chronic type of hyperventilation is an interesting and often confusing symptom complex. There is a prevalent misconception that hyperventilation syndromes occur infrequently, are characterized by acute, dramatic, but transitory bouts of hyperpnea, and that they culminate in frank tetany. Our experience indicates, to the contrary, that these syndromes are common, generally have a chronic course, present diverse clinical pictures that often mimic serious organic disease, and are usually attended by marked disability.1 PATHOGENESIS In 1937, Kerr and his associates first directed attention to the various manifestations that may result from hyperventilation and emphasized the psychogenic cause that usually exists.2Since then, however, many other causal factors have been noted, such as severe febrile states,3infections, intoxications, collagen diseases affecting the central nervous system,4and reflex sensory stimulation from pathological lesions in remote areas of the body (e. g., prostatic hypertrophy with urinary retention).5Hyperventilation