Etiology of 19 infants with apparent life-threatening events: relationship between apnea and esophageal dysfunction.

There are various identifiable diseases or conditions that can cause apparent life-threatening events (ALTE; e.g. gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and seizures). Nineteen infants with ALTE (mean age: 4.3 months) were brought to our hospital between June 1986 and August 1991. The causes of these ALTE were investigated. Analysis of laboratory data, radiological studies and esophageal function tests led to the diagnosis of GER in six of 19 infants; pertussis in five; upper respiratory infection in three; vagotonia-like condition with esophageal dysfunction in two; laryngostenosis with cerebral palsy in two; choking on food or drink in two; and epilepsy in one infant. Two cases (one case of pertussis and one of vagotonia-like condition) were associated with GER. Some of the cases demonstrate that ALTE in infants may be induced by GER or some esophageal dysmotility. Further studies of ALTE are needed to ascertain how frequently GER or esophageal dysmotility is responsible for ALTE.