APNEA OF INFANCY, SEIZURES, AND GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX - AN IMPORTANT BUT INFREQUENT ASSOCIATION

Seventeen infants between 3 and 37 weeks of age were sequentially admi tted for investigation of apnea of infancy or apparent life-threatenin g events associated with suspected regurgitation. They all underwent a n overnight polygraphic study, including esophageal pH monitoring. In nine infants, gastroesophageal reflux was diagnosed. In five of them, the reflux was associated with apnea. However, unassociated episodes o f apnea and gastroesophageal reflux occurred (7.1 times and four times , respectively) more frequently than associated episodes. In two of th e five infants, a seizure preceded both reflux and apnea and might hav e acted as a trigger for the apparent life-threatening events. Infants with apparent life-threatening events or apnea of infancy frequently demonstrate gastroesophageal reflux that cannot be consistently relate d to their events. However, when the association is demonstrated, a co mmon epileptic convulsive etiology should be considered.