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Multiple sleep latency test by polysomnography: a case report.
Robert Daniel Vorona1, J Catesby Ware
1Department of Internal Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Sentara Norfolk Hospital, Sleep Disorder Center, Virginia 23507, USA. voronard@evms.edu
Sleep & Breathing = Schlaf & Atmung
|October 22, 2003
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea can mask other sleep disorders. This case report shows how a patient was eventually diagnosed with both obstructive sleep apnea and narcolepsy after years of testing.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea is a common cause of daytime sleepiness.
- Less common sleep disorders can be overlooked in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
Observation:
- A patient presented with persistent sleepiness despite management for obstructive sleep apnea.
- Multiple polysomnograms were conducted over a six-year period.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with both obstructive sleep apnea and narcolepsy.
- Narcolepsy was initially masked by the symptoms and polysomnogram findings of obstructive sleep apnea.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering multiple diagnoses in sleep disorder patients.
- Suggests that narcolepsy may be underdiagnosed in obstructive sleep apnea populations.
- Emphasizes the need for longitudinal evaluation in complex sleepiness cases.