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Polysomnographic assessment of sleep disturbances in children with developmental disabilities and seizures

Silvia Miano1, Oliviero Bruni, Debora Aricò

  • 1Sleep Research Centre, Department of Neurology I.C., Oasi Institute for Research on Mental Retardation and Brain Aging (IRCCS), Via C. Ruggero 73, 94018, Troina, Italy.

Neurological Sciences : Official Journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
|May 28, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Children with mental retardation (MR) and epilepsy often experience sleep breathing disorders and periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS). Addressing these sleep issues may improve seizure control in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Children with mental retardation (MR) and epilepsy are a vulnerable population.
  • Sleep disturbances are common in children with neurological conditions.
  • The specific impact of sleep disorders on MR and epilepsy requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess sleep breathing disorders and periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS) in children with MR and epilepsy.
  • To evaluate NREM sleep instability in this cohort.
  • To compare sleep characteristics between children with MR and epilepsy and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 11 children with MR and epilepsy (ages 9-17) and 11 age-matched healthy controls.
  • Utilized polysomnography to assess sleep parameters.
  • Analyzed sleep architecture, apnea-hypopnea index, PLMS index, and cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) metrics.

Main Results:

  • Three children with MR and epilepsy exhibited an apnea-hypopnea index > 5; two also had a PLMS index > 5.
  • One additional subject had a PLMS index > 5.
  • Children with MR and epilepsy demonstrated significant differences in sleep architecture, including higher CAP rate, increased A1 index, and altered CAP sequence characteristics compared to controls.

Conclusions:

  • Children with MR and epilepsy frequently present with sleep-disordered breathing and PLMS.
  • NREM sleep instability, characterized by increased CAP, is more prevalent in children with MR and epilepsy.
  • Investigating and treating sleep disorders in this population may positively influence epilepsy management and seizure control.

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