Pickwickian syndrome

Epidemiology

5% of cases of sleep apnea

Pathology

• efficiency of respiratory muscles is 60-70% of normal
• in later stages, right heart failure is followed by left heart failure
• cor pulmonale

Clinical manifestations

• morbid obesity
• hypersomnolence
• cyanosis
• plethora
• obstructive sleep apnea

Laboratory

• complete blood count (CBC)
  • polycythemia
• arterial blood gas (ABG)
  • hypoxia
  • hypercarbia

More general terms

• obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
• syndrome