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Sleep in patients with treated Wilson's disease. A questionnaire study
Kamilla Portala1, Kerstin Westermark, Lisa Ekselius
1Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University Hospital, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. kamilla.portala@uaspsyk.uu.se
Nordic Journal of Psychiatry
|December 10, 2002
Summary
Patients with treated Wilson's disease (WD) experience more nocturnal awakenings and daytime fatigue than the general population. These sleep disturbances may indicate altered REM sleep function in WD patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Wilson's disease (WD) is a genetic disorder of copper metabolism.
- Little is known about sleep disturbances in treated WD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sleep habits and disturbances in treated Wilson's disease patients.
- To compare sleep patterns between WD patients and a healthy reference group.
Main Methods:
- A standardized sleep questionnaire with 87 questions was administered to 24 treated WD patients.
- Sleep data from WD patients were compared to a reference group of 72 individuals.
- Patient demographics, lifestyle, and sleep variables were analyzed.
Main Results:
- WD patients reported significantly more nocturnal awakenings than the reference group.
- 59% of WD patients frequently woke for over 30 minutes during the night.
- WD patients experienced more non-restorative sleep, daytime fatigue, and frequent naps.
- Sleep paralysis and cataplexy were more prevalent in WD patients.
Conclusions:
- Treated Wilson's disease patients exhibit distinct sleep patterns compared to the general population.
- Reported symptoms suggest a potential alteration in REM sleep function in WD.
- Further objective studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of sleep disturbances in WD.