Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 20, 2026
Effects of Exposure of Formaldehyde to a Rat Model of Atopic Dermatitis Induced by Neonatal Capsaicin Treatment
Published on: September 27, 2017
Sleep and Limb Movement Characteristics of Children With Atopic Dermatitis Coincidentally Undergoing Clinical
Alison D Treister1, Heather Stefek1, Daniela Grimaldi2
1Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Allergy, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
Insights
Children with atopic dermatitis (AD) often experience sleep disturbances, including increased limb movements during sleep. This study highlights the need to consider AD in children undergoing polysomnography (PSG) and when diagnosing periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD).
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Dermatology
- Neurology
Background:
- Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic skin condition in children, frequently associated with sleep disturbances.
- Children with AD undergoing polysomnography (PSG) may exhibit coincident sleep abnormalities.
- Characterizing limb movements in children with AD is crucial for understanding their sleep quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate limb movement characteristics in children with atopic dermatitis during polysomnography (PSG).
- To compare sleep parameters in children with AD to normative data.
- To evaluate the association between AD, limb movements, and sleep quality.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of children with AD who underwent attended PSG.
- Comparison of PSG sleep parameters with published normative data.
- Subgroup analysis comparing children with elevated limb movements to a matched group diagnosed with periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD).
Main Results:
- Children with AD showed increased wake after sleep onset (WASO), sleep onset latency, and total limb movement index compared to normative values.
- A significant portion (20%) of children with mild to moderate AD had a total limb movement index exceeding 15 events/h.
- Elevated limb movements were more pronounced in the PLMD group compared to the AD group, particularly during N2 sleep.
Conclusions:
- Altered PSG parameters, including increased limb movements, are present in children with AD.
- Clinicians should consider AD in the differential diagnosis for children with sleep disturbances undergoing PSG.
- The findings suggest a need to consider AD when diagnosing PLMD due to elevated limb movements in affected children.
Study Objectives:
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent, chronic, itchy skin condition. Children undergoing polysomnography (PSG) may coincidentally have AD. Many children with AD have sleep disturbances. Our study aimed to characterize limb movements in children with AD and their effect on sleep.
Methods:
A retrospective chart review was conducted for children who underwent comprehensive attended PSG and had AD. PSG sleep parameters were compared to published normative data. A subset of patients with markedly elevated total limb movements was further compared to a matched group of patients with a diagnosis of periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) and no history of AD.
Results:
There were 34 children with AD 6.36 ± 3.21 years (mean ± standard deviation), 50% female and with mild to moderate AD. There was increased wake after sleep onset (WASO = 46.0 ± 37.8 minutes), sleep onset latency (46.5 ± 53.0 minutes) and total limb movement index (13.9 ± 7.5 events/h) compared to normative values. Although our cohort was mostly mild AD, 7 of the 34 children with AD (20%) had a total limb movement index during sleep > 15 events/h. Increased total limb movements in PLMD versus patients with AD was most notable during stage N2 sleep (38 ± 17 versus 22 ± 7, P = .01, respectively).
Conclusions:
We found altered PSG parameters in children with AD, suggesting that clinicians should consider the diagnosis when affected children undergo PSG. Although our AD cohort was mild, we still determined a need to consider AD when diagnosing PLMD given the presence of elevated total limb movements in children with AD.
Citation:
Treister AD, Stefek H, Grimaldi D, Rupani N, Zee P, Yob J, Sheldon S, Fishbein AB. Sleep and limb movement characteristics of children with atopic dermatitis coincidentally undergoing clinical polysomnography. J Clin Sleep Med. 2019;15(8):1107-1113.
Related Concept Videos
06:47Effects of Exposure of Formaldehyde to a Rat Model of Atopic Dermatitis Induced by Neonatal Capsaicin Treatment
06:39Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings
07:59Therapy Interventions for Upper Limb Amputees Undergoing Selective Nerve Transfers
05:52Lower-Limb Biomechanical Characteristics Associated with Unplanned Gait Termination Under Different Walking Speeds
09:18Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
06:51Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training