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Nobili L, Cordani R, Arnaldi D, Mattioli P, Veneruso M, Ng M. Rapid eye movement sleep and epilepsy: exploring interactions and therapeutic prospects. J Sleep Res 2024:e14251. [PMID: 38842061 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.14251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
While research interest in the relationship between sleep and epilepsy is growing, it primarily centres on the effects of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep in favouring seizures. Nonetheless, a noteworthy aspect is the observation that, in the lives of patients with epilepsy, REM sleep represents the moment with the least epileptic activity and the lowest probability of having a seizure. Studies demonstrate a suppressive effect of phasic REM sleep on interictal epileptiform discharges, potentially offering insights into epilepsy localisation and management. Furthermore, epilepsy impacts REM sleep, with successful treatment correlating with improved REM sleep quality. Novel therapeutic strategies aim to harness REM's anti-epileptic effects, including pharmacological approaches targeting orexinergic systems and neuromodulation techniques promoting cortical desynchronisation. These findings underscore the intricate relationship between REM sleep and epilepsy, highlighting avenues for further research and therapeutic innovation in epilepsy management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lino Nobili
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Member of the European Reference Network EpiCARE, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Child and Maternal Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ramona Cordani
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Member of the European Reference Network EpiCARE, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Child and Maternal Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Dario Arnaldi
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Child and Maternal Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Neurophysiopathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Pietro Mattioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Child and Maternal Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Neurophysiopathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Veneruso
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Member of the European Reference Network EpiCARE, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Child and Maternal Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marcus Ng
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Section of Neurology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Avigdor T, Abdallah C, Afnan J, Cai Z, Rammal S, Grova C, Frauscher B. Consistency of electrical source imaging in presurgical evaluation of epilepsy across different vigilance states. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2024; 11:389-403. [PMID: 38217279 PMCID: PMC10863930 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The use of electrical source imaging (ESI) in assessing the source of interictal epileptic discharges (IEDs) is gaining increasing popularity in presurgical work-up of patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. While vigilance affects the ability to locate IEDs and identify the epileptogenic zone, we know little about its impact on ESI. METHODS We studied overnight high-density electroencephalography recordings in focal drug-resistant epilepsy. IEDs were marked visually in each vigilance state, and examined in the sensor and source space. ESIs were calculated and compared between all vigilance states and the clinical ground truth. Two conditions were considered within each vigilance state, an unequalized and an equalized number of IEDs. RESULTS The number, amplitude, and duration of IEDs were affected by the vigilance state, with N3 sleep presenting the highest number, amplitude, and duration for both conditions (P < 0.001), while signal-to-noise ratio only differed in the unequalized condition (P < 0.001). The vigilance state did not affect channel involvement (P > 0.05). ESI maps showed no differences in distance, quality, extent, or maxima distances compared to the clinical ground truth for both conditions (P > 0.05). Only when an absolute reference (wakefulness) was used, the channel involvement (P < 0.05) and ESI source extent (P < 0.01) were impacted during rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. Clustering of amplitude-sensitive and -insensitive ESI maps pointed to amplitude rather than the spatial profile as the driver (P < 0.05). INTERPRETATION IED ESI results are stable across vigilance states, including REM sleep, if controlled for amplitude and IED number. ESI is thus stable and invariant to the vigilance state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamir Avigdor
- Analytical Neurophysiology LabMontreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
- Multimodal Functional Imaging Lab, Biomedical Engineering DepartmentMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - Chifaou Abdallah
- Analytical Neurophysiology LabMontreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
- Multimodal Functional Imaging Lab, Biomedical Engineering DepartmentMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - Jawata Afnan
- Multimodal Functional Imaging Lab, Biomedical Engineering DepartmentMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - Zhengchen Cai
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Saba Rammal
- Analytical Neurophysiology LabMontreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Christophe Grova
- Multimodal Functional Imaging Lab, Biomedical Engineering DepartmentMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
- Multimodal Functional Imaging Lab, PERFORM Centre, Department of PhysicsConcordia UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Birgit Frauscher
- Analytical Neurophysiology LabMontreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
- Department of NeurologyDuke University Medical CenterDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringDuke Pratt School of EngineeringDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
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Ho A, Hannan S, Thomas J, Avigdor T, Abdallah C, Dubeau F, Gotman J, Frauscher B. Rapid eye movement sleep affects interictal epileptic activity differently in mesiotemporal and neocortical areas. Epilepsia 2023; 64:3036-3048. [PMID: 37714213 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep reduces the rate and extent of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs). Breakthrough epileptic activity during REM sleep is therefore thought to best localize the seizure onset zone (SOZ). We utilized polysomnography combined with direct cortical recordings to investigate the influences of anatomical locations and the time of night on the suppressive effect of REM sleep on IEDs. METHODS Forty consecutive patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy underwent combined polysomnography and stereo-electroencephalography during presurgical evaluation. Ten-minute interictal epochs were selected 2 h prior to sleep onset (wakefulness), and from the first and second half of the night during non-REM (NREM) sleep and REM sleep. IEDs were detected automatically across all channels. Anatomic localization, time of night, and channel type (within or outside the SOZ) were tested as modulating factors. RESULTS Relative to wakefulness, there was a suppression of IEDs by REM sleep in neocortical regions (median = -27.6%), whereas mesiotemporal regions showed an increase in IEDs (19.1%, p = .01, d = .39). This effect was reversed when comparing the regional suppression of IEDs by REM sleep relative to NREM sleep (-35.1% in neocortical, -58.7% in mesiotemporal, p < .001, d = .39). Across all patients, no clinically relevant novel IED regions were observed in REM sleep versus NREM or wakefulness based on our predetermined thresholds (4 IEDs/min in REM, 0 IEDs/min in NREM and wakefulness). Finally, there was a reduction in IEDs in late (NREM: 1.08/min, REM: .61/min) compared to early sleep (NREM: 1.22/min, REM: .69/min) for both NREM (p < .001, d = .21) and REM (p = .04, d = .14). SIGNIFICANCE Our results demonstrate a spatiotemporal effect of IED suppression by REM sleep relative to wakefulness in neocortical but not mesiotemporal regions, and in late versus early sleep. This suggests the importance of considering sleep stage interactions and the potential influences of anatomical locations when using IEDs to define the epileptic focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Ho
- Analytical Neurophysiology Laboratory, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sana Hannan
- Analytical Neurophysiology Laboratory, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - John Thomas
- Analytical Neurophysiology Laboratory, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Tamir Avigdor
- Analytical Neurophysiology Laboratory, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Chifaou Abdallah
- Analytical Neurophysiology Laboratory, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - François Dubeau
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jean Gotman
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Birgit Frauscher
- Analytical Neurophysiology Laboratory, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke Pratt School of Engineering, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Lepage KQ, Jain S, Kvavilashvili A, Witcher M, Vijayan S. Unsupervised Multitaper Spectral Method for Identifying REM Sleep in Intracranial EEG Recordings Lacking EOG/EMG Data. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:1009. [PMID: 37760111 PMCID: PMC10525760 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10091009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A large number of human intracranial EEG (iEEG) recordings have been collected for clinical purposes, in institutions all over the world, but the vast majority of these are unaccompanied by EOG and EMG recordings which are required to separate Wake episodes from REM sleep using accepted methods. In order to make full use of this extremely valuable data, an accurate method of classifying sleep from iEEG recordings alone is required. Existing methods of sleep scoring using only iEEG recordings accurately classify all stages of sleep, with the exception that wake (W) and rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep are not well distinguished. A novel multitaper (Wake vs. REM) alpha-rhythm classifier is developed by generalizing K-means clustering for use with multitaper spectral eigencoefficients. The performance of this unsupervised method is assessed on eight subjects exhibiting normal sleep architecture in a hold-out analysis and is compared against a classical power detector. The proposed multitaper classifier correctly identifies 36±6 min of REM in one night of recorded sleep, while incorrectly labeling less than 10% of all labeled 30 s epochs for all but one subject (human rater reliability is estimated to be near 80%), and outperforms the equivalent statistical-power classical test. Hold-out analysis indicates that when using one night's worth of data, an accurate generalization of the method on new data is likely. For the purpose of studying sleep, the introduced multitaper alpha-rhythm classifier further paves the way to making available a large quantity of otherwise unusable IEEG data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Q. Lepage
- School of Neuroscience, Sandy Hall, Virginia Tech, 210 Drillfield Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA; (A.K.); (S.V.)
| | - Sparsh Jain
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, 325 Stanger St., Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
| | - Andrew Kvavilashvili
- School of Neuroscience, Sandy Hall, Virginia Tech, 210 Drillfield Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA; (A.K.); (S.V.)
| | - Mark Witcher
- Section of Neurosurgery, Carilion Clinic, Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, 1906 Belleview Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24014, USA;
| | - Sujith Vijayan
- School of Neuroscience, Sandy Hall, Virginia Tech, 210 Drillfield Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA; (A.K.); (S.V.)
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McLeod GA, Abbasian P, Toutant D, Ghassemi A, Duke T, Rycyk C, Serletis D, Moussavi Z, Ng MC. Sleep-wake states change the interictal localization of candidate epileptic source generators. Sleep 2022; 45:6547903. [PMID: 35279715 PMCID: PMC9189983 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsac062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES To compare estimated epileptic source localizations from 5 sleep-wake states (SWS): wakefulness (W), rapid eye movement sleep (REM), and non-REM 1-3. METHODS Electrical source localization (sLORETA) of interictal spikes from different SWS on surface EEG from the epilepsy monitoring unit at spike peak and take-off, with results mapped to individual brain models for 75% of patients. Concordance was defined as source localization voxels shared between 2 and 5 SWS, and discordance as those unique to 1 SWS against 1-4 other SWS. RESULTS 563 spikes from 16 prospectively recruited focal epilepsy patients across 161 day-nights. SWS exerted significant differences at spike peak but not take-off. Source localization size did not vary between SWS. REM localizations were smaller in multifocal than unifocal patients (28.8% vs. 54.4%, p = .0091). All five SWS contributed about 45% of their localizations to converge onto 17.0 ± 15.5% voxels. Against any one other SWS, REM was least concordant (54.4% vs. 66.9%, p = .0006) and most discordant (39.3% vs. 29.6%, p = .0008). REM also yielded the most unique localizations (20.0% vs. 8.6%, p = .0059). CONCLUSIONS REM was best suited to identify candidate epileptic sources. sLORETA proposes a model in which an "omni-concordant core" of source localizations shared by all five SWS is surrounded by a "penumbra" of source localizations shared by some but not all SWS. Uniquely, REM spares this core to "move" source voxels from the penumbra to unique cortex not localized by other SWS. This may reflect differential intra-spike propagation in REM, which may account for its reported superior localizing abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham A McLeod
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Parandoush Abbasian
- Medical Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Darion Toutant
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | | | - Tyler Duke
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Conrad Rycyk
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Demitre Serletis
- Charles Shor Epilepsy Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Zahra Moussavi
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Marcus C Ng
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Section of Neurology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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Interictal sleep recordings during presurgical evaluation: Bidirectional perspectives on sleep related network functioning. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2022; 178:703-713. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2022.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Nobili L, Frauscher B, Eriksson S, Gibbs SA, Halasz P, Lambert I, Manni R, Peter-Derex L, Proserpio P, Provini F, de Weerd A, Parrino L. Sleep and epilepsy: A snapshot of knowledge and future research lines. J Sleep Res 2022; 31:e13622. [PMID: 35487880 PMCID: PMC9540671 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Sleep and epilepsy have a reciprocal relationship, and have been recognized as bedfellows since antiquity. However, research on this topic has made a big step forward only in recent years. In this narrative review we summarize the most stimulating discoveries and insights reached by the "European school." In particular, different aspects concerning the sleep-epilepsy interactions are analysed: (a) the effects of sleep on epilepsy; (b) the effects of epilepsy on sleep structure; (c) the relationship between epilepsy, sleep and epileptogenesis; (d) the impact of epileptic activity during sleep on cognition; (e) the relationship between epilepsy and the circadian rhythm; (f) the history and features of sleep hypermotor epilepsy and its differential diagnosis; (g) the relationship between epilepsy and sleep disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lino Nobili
- Child Neuropsychiatric Unit, Istituto G. Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Birgit Frauscher
- Analytical Neurophysiology Lab, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sofia Eriksson
- Department of Clinical and Experiential Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Steve Alex Gibbs
- Department of Neurosciences, Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, Sacred Heart Hospital, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Peter Halasz
- Szentagothai János School of Ph.D Studies, Clinical Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Isabelle Lambert
- Aix Marseille Univ, Inserm, INS, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Marseille, France.,APHM, Timone Hospital, Clinical Neurophysiology, Marseille, France
| | - Raffaele Manni
- Unit of Sleep Medicine and Epilepsy, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Laure Peter-Derex
- Center for Sleep Medicine and Respiratory Diseases, Lyon University Hospital, Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France.,Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS UMR 5292/INSERM U1028, Lyon, France
| | - Paola Proserpio
- Department of Neuroscience, Sleep Medicine Centre, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Provini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Al de Weerd
- Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland, Zwolle, Netherlands
| | - Liborio Parrino
- Department of General and Specialized Medicine, Sleep Disorders Center, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
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Yeh WC, Lin PJ, Chuang YC, Hsu CY. Quantitative evaluation of the microstructure of rapid eye movement sleep in refractory epilepsy: a preliminary study using electroencephalography and heart rate variability analysis. Sleep Med 2021; 85:239-245. [PMID: 34364095 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2021.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Patients with epilepsy have a disturbed sleep architecture. Polysomnographic studies have shown that patients with refractory epilepsy have decreased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and longer REM latency than those with medically controlled epilepsy. However, little is known about the differences in the REM sleep microstructure between these patient groups. METHODS We conducted a retrospective case-control study of 20 patients with refractory epilepsy (refractory group) and 28 patients with medically controlled epilepsy (medically controlled group). All patients completed sleep questionnaires and underwent overnight in-lab polysomnography. Five-minute electroencephalogram recordings at the C3 and C4 electrodes from each REM sleep were selected for spectral analysis, and 5-min electrocardiogram segments recorded during REM sleep were used for heart rate variability analysis. The groups' scores on the sleep questionnaires, polysomnographic sleep parameters, indices of sleep-related breathing disorders, and REM sleep electroencephalogram spectra were compared. RESULTS The refractory group had decreased REM sleep (p < 0.001) and longer REM latency (p = 0.0357) than those of the medically controlled group. Moreover, electroencephalogram spectral analysis revealed that the refractory group had decreased absolute beta power (p = 0.0039) and relative beta power (p = 0.0035) as well as increased relative delta power (p = 0.0015) compared with the medically controlled group. CONCLUSIONS Differences in the polysomnographic macrostructure and REM sleep microstructure between the study groups suggest REM sleep dysregulation in patients with refractory epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Chih Yeh
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
| | - Pei-Jung Lin
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, Da-Sin Hospital, Pingtung County, Taiwan.
| | - Yao-Chung Chuang
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
| | - Chung-Yao Hsu
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
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Mutti C, Bernabè G, Barozzi N, Ciliento R, Trippi I, Pedrazzi G, Azzi N, Parrino L. Commonalities and Differences in NREM Parasomnias and Sleep-Related Epilepsy: Is There a Continuum Between the Two Conditions? Front Neurol 2020; 11:600026. [PMID: 33362702 PMCID: PMC7759670 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.600026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Differential diagnosis between disorders of arousal (DoA) and sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE) often represents a clinical challenge. The two conditions may be indistinguishable from a semiological point of view and the scalp video-polysomnography is often uninformative. Both disorders are associated with variable hypermotor manifestations ranging from major events to fragments of a hierarchical continuum of increasing intensity, complexity, and duration. Given their semiological overlap we decided to explore the sleep texture of DoA and SHE seeking for similarities and differences. Methods: We analyzed sleep macrostructure and CAP (cyclic alternating pattern) parameters in a cohort of 35 adult DoA patients, 40 SHE patients and 24 healthy sleepers, all recorded and scored in the same sleep laboratory. Nocturnal behavioral manifestations included minor motor events, paroxysmal arousals and major attacks in SHE, and simple, rising, or complex arousal movements in DoA. Results: Compared to healthy controls, DoA and SHE showed similar amounts of sleep efficiency, light sleep, deep sleep, REM sleep, CAP subtypes. Both groups also showed slow wave sleep fragmentation and an increased representation of stage N3 in the second part of the night. The only discriminating elements between the two conditions regarded sleep length (more reduced in DoA) and sleep instability (more elevated in SHE). In DoA recordings, all motor episodes arose from NREM sleep: 37% during light NREM stages and 63% during stage N3 (simple arousal movements: 94%). In SHE recordings, 57% of major attacks occurred during stage N3. Conclusions: So far, emphasis has been placed on the differentiation of sleep-related epilepsy and NREM arousal disorders. However, the impressive analogies between DoA and SHE suggest the existence of an underestimated continuum across the conditions, linked by increased levels of sleep instability, higher amounts of slow wave sleep and NREM/REM sleep imbalance. Sleep texture is extremely similar in the two conditions, although CAP metrics disclose quantitative differences. In particular, SHE patients show a higher arousal instability compared to DoA subjects. Given their clinical and epidemiological overlap, a common genetic background is also hypothesized. In such a perspective, we suggest that the consolidated dichotomy DoA vs. SHE should be reappraised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Mutti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Sleep Disorders Center, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Giorgia Bernabè
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Sleep Disorders Center, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Noemi Barozzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Sleep Disorders Center, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Rosario Ciliento
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Sleep Disorders Center, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Irene Trippi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Sleep Disorders Center, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pedrazzi
- Unit of Neuroscience & Interdepartmental Center of Robust Statistics, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Azzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Sleep Disorders Center, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Liborio Parrino
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Sleep Disorders Center, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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