Jaseja H, Goyal M, Mishra P. Drug-Resistant Epilepsy and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Exploring a Link Between the Two.
World Neurosurg 2021;
146:210-214. [PMID:
33248305 DOI:
10.1016/j.wneu.2020.11.099]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Drug-resistant epilepsy accounts for approximately one third of all epilepsy cases; yet its exact etiopathogenesis still remains under intense exploration. Several factors have been advocated for predicting drug resistance in patients with epilepsy. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a commonly prevalent sleep disorder that exhibits a bidirectional and strong comorbidity with epilepsy. The exact pathophysiology of this comorbidity is not yet clearly explained. This study analyzes the relationship between drug-resistant epilepsy and OSA, and the findings indicate a strong role of rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) in the pathogenesis of this relationship. It also emerges from the study that REMS reduction is a prominent feature of OSA, and drug resistance in patients with epilepsy and treatment of OSA has been shown to restore REMS in several studies with concomitant improvement in seizure control.
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