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Familial Sleep Disorders in Unknown Genetic Syndrome
Mara Lelii1, Elena Baggi2, Laura Senatore1
1Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Insights
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is common in children with genetic disorders. Early diagnosis and treatment of SDB, including central hypoventilation, improve quality of life and prevent complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Clinical Genetics
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is prevalent in pediatric populations, particularly those with congenital or genetic conditions.
- Key SDB manifestations include obstructive sleep apnea, disrupted REM sleep, and central hypoventilation.
Observation:
- A familial case of SDB with central hypoventilation was identified.
- The younger sister's diagnosis prompted a review of the older sister's health status.
Findings:
- The older sister was diagnosed with the same condition, albeit at a later stage.
- This highlights the importance of considering familial patterns in SDB diagnosis.
Implications:
- Timely diagnosis and management of SDB in children with genetic disorders enhance quality of life.
- Intervention reduces risks of cognitive impairment and cardiopulmonary complications.
- Recognizing familial clustering can expedite diagnosis in affected relatives.
Abstract:
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is common in children, especially in those with congenital or genetic diseases. The factors involved include obstructive sleep apnea, disrupted rapid eye movement sleep, and central hypoventilation. Diagnosing and treating SDB in these children have a positive impact on the quality of life of them and their families, reducing the risk of both further impairment of cognitive abilities and cardiopulmonary complications. We report a familial case of SDB with central hypoventilation, in which identification of the disorder in the younger sister led to the unfortunately late diagnosis and treatment of the same condition in the older sister.
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