Increased REM density in narcolepsy-cataplexy and the polysymptomatic form of idiopathic hypersomnia

The present work is focused on REM sleep density in patients with primary hypersomnia in comparison with non-hypersomnia subjects. 28 unmedicated patients with narcolepsy-cataplexy (NC) and 10 unmedicated patients suffering from the polysymptomatic form of idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) and their age- and sex-matched controls were included in the study. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by MSLT and nocturnal PSG, HLA typing was performed in a respective group of narcoleptic patients. Polygraphical recordings were visually scored with particular regard to the two most characteristic phasic features of REM sleep: the number of rapid eye movements (REMs) and chin muscle twitches (Tws) per minute. These events were evaluated according to recognized criteria; a closer look was taken at both their frequency and their distribution across all the nocturnal REM periods (REMPs). The following main differences between hypersomniac patients (of both groups examined) and healthy controls were found in terms of phasic activity: (I) REM density (expressed in REMs/min and Tws/min in each REM period) was significantly increased in the hypersomniac patients in comparison with the controls. (p>0.05).(II) The intra-night phasic activity distribution was found rising more conspicuously in the hypersomniacs than in the controls.