Restless sleep disorder, restless legs syndrome, and periodic limb movement disorder-Sleep in motion!

Sleep and Autism: Current Research, Clinical Assessment, and Treatment Strategies

Autism spectrum disorder is associated with a high rate of sleep problems, affecting over 80% of autistic individuals. Sleep problems have pervasive negative effects on health, behavior, mood, and cognition but are underrecognized in autistic children. Problems initiating and maintaining sleep-hallmarks of insomnia-are common. Sleep-disordered breathing and restless legs syndrome have also been described in autism at a higher prevalence than in community populations. The authors describe current research on sleep in autistic children and potential pathophysiologic mechanisms. They describe practical approaches to sleep assessment and synthesize approaches to addressing sleep problems in autistic children.

The association of obstructive sleep apnea and behavioral insomnia in children ages 10 and under

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Behavioral insomnia of childhood (BIC) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are highly prevalent conditions affecting 10%-20% and 1%-5% of children, respectively. Studies in adults and adolescents have suggested that comorbid insomnia and OSA may have distinct clinical characteristics. The association between the two conditions in the pediatric population has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to examine the association between BIC and OSA in young children.

METHODS

Children, 6 months to 10 years old, referred to a sleep specialist and polysomnography at the Hadassah Medical Center between 2018 and 2021 were included in this retrospective analysis. We excluded children with chromosomal and craniofacial abnormalities, posttonsillectomy, or neurological impairment. BIC diagnosis was extracted from the electronic health records in accordance with the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, third edition criteria. OSA was diagnosed by polysomnography (apnea-hypopnea index > 2 events/h).

RESULTS

Of 312 children (age 4.42 ± 2.42 years), 126 (40.4%) were non-OSA non-BIC, 125 (40.1%) OSA non-BIC, 34 (10.9%) BIC non-OSA, and 27 (8.7%) comorbid insomnia and OSA. OSA and non-OSA children had a similar prevalence of BIC. Children in the comorbid insomnia and OSA group were significantly younger (2.22 ± 1.21 years). Younger age at polysomnography, premature birth, and increased periodic leg movements on polysomnography were independently associated with OSA in a multivariable analysis. Lower body mass index, regardless of OSA, was associated with BIC.

CONCLUSIONS

Current findings do not support an association between behavioral insomnia of childhood and obstructive sleep apnea in children. Healthcare providers should consider each of these sleep disorders in children presenting with sleep difficulties since each has distinct diagnostic and therapeutic options.

CITATION

Yelov L, Reiter J, Meira E Cruz M, Gileles-Hillel A. The association of obstructive sleep apnea and behavioral insomnia in children ages 10 and under. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(2):245-251.

Restless sleep disorder in children with epileptic and non-epileptic nocturnal attacks

Restless sleep disorder (RSD) is an important sleep disorder characterised by the presence of frequent large muscle movements (LMM) during sleep, which may be comorbid to other conditions/diseases. In this study, we investigated the frequency and the characteristics of RSD among children who were evaluated by polysomnography (PSG) due to epileptic and non-epileptic nocturnal attacks. We analysed consecutively children younger than 18 years who were referred for PSG recording due to abnormal motor activities during sleep. The diagnosis of nocturnal events as sleep-related epilepsy was made based on the current consensus. Patients who were referred with suspicion of sleep-related epilepsy, but who were diagnosed to have non-epileptic nocturnal events and children with a definitive diagnosis of NREM sleep parasomnias were also enrolled. Sixty-two children were analysed in this study (17 children with sleep-related epilepsy, 20 children with NREM parasomnia, and 25 children with nocturnal events not otherwise classified [neNOS]). The mean number of LMM, LMM index, LMM-associated with arousal and its index were all significantly higher in children with sleep-related epilepsy. Restless sleep disorder was present in 47.1% of patients with epilepsy, 25% of patients with parasomnia, and in 20% of patients with neNOS. The mean A3 duration and the A3 index were higher in children with sleep-related epilepsy and RSD compared with those with parasomnia and restless sleep disorder. Patients with RSD had lower ferritin levels than those without RSD in all subgroups. Our study demonstrates a high prevalence of restless sleep disorder in children with sleep-related epilepsy, associated with an increased cyclic alternating pattern.

Restless Legs Syndrome and Restless Sleep Disorder in Children

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) affects 2% of children presenting with symptoms of insomnia, restless sleep, decreased quality of life, and effects on cognition and behavior. The International RLS Study Group and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine have published guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of RLS in children. Restless sleep disorder has been recently identified in children and presents with frequent movements during sleep and daytime symptoms with polysomnography findings of at least 5 large muscle movements at night. Treatment options for both disorders include iron supplementation, either oral or intravenous with improvement in nighttime and daytime symptoms.

The relationship between iron deficiency anemia with restless leg syndrome and sleep quality in workers working in a textile factory in Iran: a cross-sectional study

Background

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between iron deficiency anemia with restless leg syndrome (RLS) and sleep quality in workers working in a textile factory in Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 216 workers working in a textile factory in Iran. In addition to demographic and occupational variables, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and RLS questionnaires were used for the data collection. To investigate iron deficiency anemia, 2 CC of blood was taken from the brachial artery with the help of a 10-CC syringe with a blue or pink tip. Then, relevant data were entered into SPSS26 and analyzed.

Results

The mean (S. D.) age of the workers was 32.23 (6.14) and 60.6% of them were women. The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was 21.2 and 69.5% in men and women, respectively. Most of the workers were in moderate condition in terms of RLS severity, and 78.2% had sleep disorders. There was an inverse and significant correlation between age (β= −0.200), work experience (β= −0.160), hemoglobin (β= −0.149), and ferritin (β= −0.186) with global PSQI score (P value<0.05). Also, an inverse and significant correlation was observed between age (β= −0.164), hemoglobin (β= −0.548), and ferritin (β= −0.410) with RLS score (P value<0.05). However, there was a direct and significant correlation between TIBC level and RLS score (β= 0.227) and global PSQI score (β= 0.395) (P value<0.05).

Conclusions

Intervention programs to reduce iron deficiency anemia and periodic screening programs to identify sleep disorders and RLS in textile factory workers seem necessary.

Sleep disorders in children with celiac disease: a prospective study

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Celiac disease (CD), an immune-mediated enteropathy, has a clinical spectrum that is remarkably wide and includes neuropsychiatric manifestations. While studies of adults have shown sleep disturbances, there is limited data in children. Our objectives were to assess the association between sleep disturbances and CD in children, and the effect of a gluten-free diet.

METHODS

Parents of children 3-12 years old referred for endoscopy completed the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children and modified Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Children with CD were compared with healthy controls and children with abdominal pain but no definitive findings on investigation. Parents of children with CD and abdominal pain were contacted after 6 months for follow-up.

RESULTS

We enrolled 101 patients, mean age 6.5 (2.8), 51% female, 38 with CD, 18 abdominal pain, and 45 healthy. Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children scores were 37.4 (8.7), 41.3 (11.3), and 45.4 (13.7) in healthy controls, CD, and abdominal pain, respectively (P = .024). There was a significant difference in the disorders of arousal domain (P = .044). There were no significant differences on the modified Epworth Sleepiness Scale. A trend toward improvement in Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children scores was seen in children with CD presenting with abdominal pain after 6 months on a gluten-free diet (P = .07).

CONCLUSIONS

In this first prospective study of sleep disturbances in children with CD, we show high rates of disturbed sleep compared with healthy children. Sleep disturbances did not improve on a gluten-free diet and may be driven by abdominal pain.

CITATION

Reiter J, Abuelhija H, Slae M, et al. Sleep disorders in children with celiac disease: a prospective study. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(3):591-594.

Effects of bupropion and SSRI antidepressants on leg movement activity and chin muscle tone during sleep in adolescents

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effects of bupropion on periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) and chin electromyography tone in children taking it for their mood disorder, compared to the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and of bupropion combined with SSRIs.

METHODS

Six adolescents (aged 16.0 ± 0.63 years) taking bupropion alone and 6 adolescents (aged 15.9 ± 1.36 years) taking bupropion in combination with an SSRI antidepressant were recruited, along with 10 adolescents (aged 16.2 ± 0.2 years) taking different SSRIs, and they were also enrolled together with 17 age- and sex-matched control patients (aged 15.5 ± 1.26 years). Polysomnographic studies were obtained, and participants' leg movement activity during sleep and muscle tone were assessed quantitatively (atonia index) during all sleep stages.

RESULTS

Participants taking SSRIs showed PLMS indices significantly higher than those of control patients, whereas adolescents taking bupropion showed only slightly increased indexes of nonperiodic leg movements during sleep. No differences in PLMS were observed between adolescents taking bupropion alone or in association with SSRIs. The atonia index showed, within each sleep stage, the lowest values in the 2 groups taking SSRIs and the highest in the control patients; adolescents taking bupropion alone tended to show values slightly smaller than those of the control patients.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that similar to adults, in adolescents SSRIs but not bupropion are associated with increased PLMS. Bupropion also seems to counteract the SSRI-induced increase of PLMS, when administered in combination; thus, the dopaminergic effect of bupropion seems to outmatch the antidopaminergic action of SSRIs. Conversely, bupropion does not counteract the effects of SSRIs on chin electromyography tone.

CITATION

DelRosso LM, Mogavero MP, Fickensher A, Bruni O, Schenck CH, Ferri R. Effects of bupropion and SSRI antidepressants on leg movement activity and chin muscle tone during sleep in adolescents. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(1):151-161.

Sleep medicine: Practice, challenges and new frontiers

Sleep medicine is an ambitious cross-disciplinary challenge, requiring the mutual integration between complementary specialists in order to build a solid framework. Although knowledge in the sleep field is growing impressively thanks to technical and brain imaging support and through detailed clinic-epidemiologic observations, several topics are still dominated by outdated paradigms. In this review we explore the main novelties and gaps in the field of sleep medicine, assess the commonest sleep disturbances, provide advices for routine clinical practice and offer alternative insights and perspectives on the future of sleep research.

Restless Sleep Disorder (RSD): a New Sleep Disorder in Children. A Rapid Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Restless sleep disorder (RSD) is a recently identified pediatric sleep disorder characterized by frequent movements during sleep associated with daytime symptoms. In this review we summarize the expanding evidence of the clinical presentation of RSD, potential pathophysiology, associated comorbidities, and current treatment options that will help the pediatrician identify children with RSD in a timely manner.

RECENT FINDINGS

RSD is diagnosed in 7.7% of children referred evaluated in a pediatric sleep center. Children with RSD present with frequent nightly movements during sleep for at least 3 months, and have daytime symptoms related to poor sleep quality including excessive sleepiness, hyperactivity, irritability among other symptoms. Current evidence shows an increased sympathetic predominance, increased NREM sleep instability, and iron deficiency, as well as increased prevalence in parasomnias and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Consensus diagnostic criteria were recently published to diagnose RSD and emergent evidence suggests that iron supplementation improves its nighttime and daytime symptoms.

Sleep Disorders in Children with Prader Willi Syndrome: Current Perspectives

Children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) face a multitude of potential health challenges including life-threatening obesity, endocrinopathies, behavioral and emotional dysregulation, developmental delays, and sleep disorders. In the current perspective piece, we provide a focused review of the condition's etiology and clinical findings, as well as a more in-depth discussion of sleep disorders frequently associated with PWS. In particular, we highlight and discuss difficult clinical scenarios frequently encountered by the pediatric sleep physician caring for this patient population, including diagnosis and treatment of complex sleep-related breathing disorders, considerations for sleep apnea surgery, the interplay between growth hormone and sleep apnea, diagnostic challenges in hypersomnia/narcolepsy, and current and emerging therapies for hypersomnia/narcolepsy. Overall, although there are many areas that need further research, sleep disorders remain a fruitful target for improving quality of life of children with PWS and their families.