Case report
Extreme obesity associated with alveolar hypoventilation—A pickwickian syndrome

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Abstract

The association of alveolar hypoventilation with obesity is described. The literature relating to the clinical manifestations of this association is reviewed.

A patient is presented in whom these phenomena are illustrated. The physiologic defects present were isolated by means of pulmonary function tests. Reversal of these defects was achieved by means of weight reduction.

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Supported in part by a research grant (H-2243) from the National Heart Institute of the National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service and in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Heart Association; presented in part before the Opening General Assembly of the Boston Clinical Meeting of the American Medical Association on November 29, 1955.

1

From the Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and the Medical Clinics, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital.

Present address, Buffalo, New York.

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