Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancing Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery in Children Through Novel Biomarkers and Enhanced Localization
09:57

Author Spotlight: Advancing Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery in Children Through Novel Biomarkers and Enhanced Localization

Published on: September 20, 2024

3.2K

SLEEP ABNORMALITIES AND POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC PROFILE IN CHILDREN WITH DRUG-RESISTANT EPILEPSY

Ranjith Kumar Manokaran1, Manjari Tripathi2, Biswaroop Chakrabarty1

  • 1Center of Excellence and Advanced Research on Childhood Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Child Neurology Division, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Seizure
|October 4, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Sleep abnormalities are common in children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), affecting sleep architecture. These findings highlight significant sleep issues in DRE patients compared to well-controlled epilepsy and typically developing children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Epilepsy Research

Background:

  • Sleep abnormalities are frequent in children with epilepsy.
  • Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) presents unique challenges in pediatric populations.
  • Understanding sleep profiles is crucial for managing epilepsy comorbidities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of sleep abnormalities in children with DRE.
  • To characterize the polysomnographic (PSG) profile of children with DRE.
  • To compare sleep abnormalities and PSG findings between DRE, well-controlled epilepsy (WCE), and typically developing children (TDC).

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study included 40 children in each of the DRE, WCE, and TDC groups.
  • Sleep habits were assessed using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ).
  • Daytime sleepiness was evaluated with the Modified Pediatric Epworth Daytime Sleepiness Scale (MPEDSS).
  • Polysomnography (PSG) was performed on 35 children in the DRE and WCE groups and 17 TDC.

Main Results:

  • The DRE group showed a significantly higher prevalence of sleep abnormalities (72.5%) compared to WCE (32.5%) and TDC (15%) via CSHQ (P=0.01).
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness was reported in 52.5% of DRE children versus 12.5% in WCE and 5% in TDC (p=0.03) via MPEDSS.
  • PSG revealed reduced sleep efficiency and REM sleep duration, and increased N2 duration, REM latency, arousals, and apnea-hypopnea index in the DRE group compared to WCE and TDC.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep-related problems are a major comorbidity in up to 75% of children with DRE.
  • Sleep architecture is significantly disrupted in children with DRE.
  • These findings underscore the importance of addressing sleep issues in pediatric DRE management.
Abstract

Keywords:
Drug-resistant epilepsyexcessive daytime somnolencepolysomnographysleep abnormalities

More Related Videos

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy10:22

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy

Published on: December 6, 2016

20.9K
Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms ECoGs and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture09:06

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms ECoGs and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture

Published on: December 22, 2016

9.9K

Related Concept Videos

Narcolepsy01:07

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.
344
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
991
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
139
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder01:15

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
987
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
2.5K
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
369