[Paroxysmal cardiorespiratory attacks in infants].

In a group of 46 fullterm infants, with a history of paroxysmal cardiorespiratory attacks, the anamnestic characteristics of the attacks were found to be heterogeneous. A 48 hours polygraphic recording was carried out in order to detect signs of immature cardiorespiratory control. Thirty seven percent of these infants were classified as having an immature cardiorespiratory control defined as abnormally long apneic episodes of 15 seconds or more, bradycardia or a high percentage (more than 10% of the time) of periodic breathing. In a group of normal control infants, those signs of immature cardiorespiratory control were significantly less frequently observed (8%). From this it is concluded that those symptoms might be considered as indicators of an increased risk for sudden infant death.