A case of diabetes mellitus associated with severe sleep apnea and Prader–Willi syndrome

A 29-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus was admitted to our hospital for severe congestive heart failure. She was suspected of having Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) or Angelman syndrome. On admission, a chest X-ray showed pneumonia and cardiomegaly with massive pleural and pericardial effusion. Obstructive and central sleep apnea syndrome was suggested, because of severe obesity and episodes of apnea without breathing and movement of the rib cage. The causes of central sleep apnea syndrome include pneumonia, hypoxia, and high metabolic production of an anticonvulsant drug because of epileptic seizure, and she had an abnormal electroencephalogram. She went on to mechanical ventilation (for example BiPAP, CPAP, and SIMV) and treatment with antibiotics. She continued to receive pressure support ventilation and antiepileptic drug treatment, and her systemic condition improved markedly after transfer to another hospital. She was finally diagnosed as PWS by genetic testing. Unfortunately, she died suddenly after choking on a sputum clog 5 months after discharge from the hospital.