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To outline specific sleep disturbances in different clinical subsets of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and to confirm, by means of nocturnal video-polysomnography (video-PSG), a variety of sleep disorders in ADHD besides the classically described periodic leg movement disorder (PLMD), restless legs syndrome (RLS) and sleep related breathing disorder (SRBD).Fifty-five ADHD children (47 M, 8F; mean age=8.9 y) were included: 16 had Inattentive and 39 Hyperactive/Impulsive or Combined ADHD subtype. Behavior assessment by Conners and SNAP-IV Scales, a structured sleep interview and a nocturnal video-PSG were administered.Most children/parents reported disturbed, fragmentary sleep at night; complaints were motor restlessness (50%), sleep walking (47.6%), night terrors (38%), confusional arousals (28.5%), snoring (21.4%), and leg discomfort at night associated with RLS (11.9%). There is a significant difference (p value0.05 or0.001) in almost all the studied sleep variables between ADHD children and controls. International RLS Rating Scale scoring, Periodic Limb Movements during Sleep (PLMS) and Wake (PLMW) indexes, hyperactivity and opposition scores and ADHD subtype appear related. Different sleep disorders seem to address specific ADHD phenotypes and correlate with severity of symptoms as in sleep related movement disorders occurring in Hyperactive/Impulsive and Combined ADHD subtypes. Besides, an abnormality of the arousal process in slow wave sleep with consequent abnormal prevalence of disorders of arousal possibly enhanced by SRBD has also been detected in 52% of our sample.This study underlines the opportunity to propose and promote the inclusion of sleep studies, possibly by video-PSG, as part of the diagnostic screening for ADHD. This strategy could address the diagnosis and treatment of different specific ADHD phenotypic expressions that might be relevant to children's symptoms and contribute to ADHD severity.

Introducción: La vídeo-polisomnografía (VPSG) neonatal está indicada para descartar la existencia de alteraciones respiratorias antes del alta hospitalaria y para estudiar el patrón de sueño del neonato y patologías asociadas. Objetivo: Estudiar la presencia de apneas, hipopneas y respiración periódica en prematuros de menos de 1.800 g y describir la variabilidad cardiorrespiratoria, las anomalías del electroencefalograma (EEG) y de la maduración cerebral en relación con el sueño. Método: Estudio descriptivo que revisa las historias clínicas de neonatos de peso inferior a 1.800 g a los que se había realizado VPSG (años 2001-2003). La indicación más frecuente fue la existencia de apneas y desaturación de oxígeno. Con los datos obtenidos se efectuó un estudio estadístico descriptivo. Resultados: El número de niños estudiados fue de 31, con una edad gestacional media de 27,8 semanas y un peso medio al nacimiento de 1.158 g. La patología asociada más frecuente fue enfermedad de membrana hialina en el 68 %. Se detectaron alteraciones cardiorrespiratorias en el 65 %; patrón de sueño alterado en el 6 %; y registro de EEG inmaduro en el 32 %, alterado en el 13 % e inmaduro y alterado en el 3 %. El 69 % de los casos necesitaron monitorización y el 23 % precisaron oxigenoterapia domiciliaria. Cuatro casos reingresaron en varias ocasiones por apneas. Conclusión: Queremos resaltar la importancia de realizar VPSG con una metodología adecuada en recién nacidos pretérmino con alteraciones cardiorrespiratorias o neurológicas, para detectar anomalías del EEG, de la maduración cerebral y de la respiración en relación con el sueño. : Introduction: Neonatal video-polysomnography (VPSG) in preterm infants is indicated to rule out sleep-related respiratory disturbances before discharge from neonatal units and to study neonatal sleep patterns and associated pathologic conditions. Objective: To study the presence of apnea, hypopnea, and periodic breathing in preterm infants with low birth weight (< 1,800 g) and to describe their cardio-respiratory variability, electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities, and brain maturity in connection with sleep stages. Method: We performed a cross-sectional, descriptive study through review of the clinical histories of preterm infants with a birth weight < 1,800 g who had undergone VPSG (2001-2003). The most common indication for VPSG was the presence of sleep apneas and oxygen desaturation. The data obtained were used for descriptive statistical analysis. Results: Thirty-one infants were studied, with a mean gestational age of 27.8 weeks and a mean birth weight of 1,158 g. The most frequently associated condition was hyaline membrane disease (68 %). Cardiorespiratory impairment was detected in 65 %, altered sleep pattern in 6 %, immature EEG recording in 32 %, abnormal pattern in 13 %, and immature plus abnormal pattern in 3 %. Sixty-nine percent of the infants required home monitoring and 23% needed oxygen at home. Four infants were readmitted on several occasions due to apnea. Conclusion: We wish to stress the importance of carrying out VPSG with suitable methodology in preterm infants with cardiorespiratory or neurological impairment in order to detect abnormalities on EEG and to assess brain maturity and sleep-related abnormal respiratory events.

Objective : The reciprocal relation between breathing, heart and motor system abnormalities during sleep was studied in multiple system atrophy (MSA) by means of video-polysomnographic recordings (VPSG). Patients and Methods : Nineteen consecutive MSA patients underwent VPSG with scoring for sleep, respiratory abnormalities, heart (HR) and breathing (BR) rates, and abnormal motor activities. A comparative analysis was performed versus 10 patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). Results : All MSA patients displayed snoring, 42% stridor, and 37% OSAS. Mean sleep SaO 2 was 92.7%, and lowest SaO 2 86%. Patients with stridor had a significant increase in BR from Wake to NREM and REM sleep, and higher HR during sleep. Respiratory muscles and tibialis anterior EMG tonic activity was frequently found, more often in patients with stridor. All patients had REM sleep behaviour disorders (RBD) and 88% periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS). No OSAS patient had RBD or respiratory muscles and tibialis anterior tonic activity. Conclusions : MSA patients, especially those with associated stridor, commonly display impaired breathing and abnormal control of respiratory and limb muscles during sleep. Breathing and motor abnormalities are often concomitant in the same patient, indicating a diffuse impairment of sleep homeostatic integration that should be included within the diagnostic features of MSA.

Introduction Morvan chorea is an antibody-mediated limbic encephalopathy characterized by severe insomnia, mental confusion, hallucinations, enacted dreams, hyperhidrosis, and neuromyotonia. Case description In a 78 years old man presenting with progressive insomnia apathy and depression, a video-polysomnogram documented enacted dreams mimicking daily life activity (oneiric stupor). This finding led us to perform a search for serum antibodies to voltage-gated K+ channels, which was positive. A diagnosis of Morvan chorea was done. The patient underwent plasma exchange with complete resolution of the clinical picture. Conclusions Oneiric stupor may represent a useful precocious diagnostic marker in Morvan chorea.