Primary alveolar hypoventilation in a thin young woman.

To the Editor: Alveolar hypoventilation in association with obesity was described first by Burwell' in 1956. In later years, many cases of this syndrome have been reported. A similar syndrome in nonobese subjects was recognized in 1965.2 By 1970, 30 cases, most of whom were men, had been reported." We wish to report a case of idiopathic hypoventilation in a young, thin woman. We shall point out the clinical features that permit one to establish the diagnosis.