Abnormal breathholding in association with carotid body dysfunction mimicking sleep apnea.

Apneic episodes lasting as long as 126 s were observed in a previously well 22-yr-old woman and were felt to result from voluntary breathholding superimposed on a blunt hypoxic ventilatory drive secondary to carotid body dysfunction. Distinguishing features between this life-threatening voluntary apnea, sleep apnea, and nonconvulsive epilepsy are discussed as well as a theoretical review of breathholding per se.