Definition of Primary alveolar hypoventilation:

Primary alveolar hypoventilation is a rare disorder of unknown cause. It leads to inadequate breathing despite the lungs and airways being normal.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The cause of this disease is unknown. Current research is looking at how the brain of these patients may be less responsive to carbon dioxide.

The condition is usually worse during sleep, and periods of apnea (where the breathing stops) are usually present. Patients with this disease are extremely sensitive to even small doses of sedatives or narcotics, which can make their inadequate breathing much worse. The disease primarily affects men 20 to 50 years old. It can also be present in male children.

This condition is commonly seen in those with obesity hypoventilation syndrome.