Alveolar hypoventilation and Willi-Prader syndrome: contribution of bilevel pressure nasal ventilation

Willi-Prader syndrome is a genetic disease characterized by obesity and beh avioral disorders. Prognosis is related to the development of respiratory f ailure. We report the cases of two adults hospitalized for acute respirator y failure with alveolar hypoventilation. Bilevel pressure nasal ventilation was successful in improving the clinical presentation and blood gases. Com pliance, tolerance and efficacy were satisfactory, even at long term, despi te the difficulties encountered in these Willi-Prader patients with behavio ral disorders who have difficulty in learning. This simple effective treatm ent demonstrates the importance of assessing respiratory function early in these patients.