A case of near-miss SIDS developing an abnormal respiratory reaction to hypoxia.

A SIDS sibling is described who showed a normal respiratory regulation at 1.5 months but who was equipped with an apnea monitor at home on psychological indications. At 3 months he had a near-miss SIDS episode. He was then found to have developed a reaction to hypoxia with appearance of periodic breathing. With theophylline this response pattern was normalized but despite theophylline medication episodes of prolonged apnea occurred.