title: Respiratory muscle activity during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) periods of hypopnoea occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, but the mechanisms involved are not clear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with stable COPD were studied during nocturnal sleep. Detailed measurements were made of surface electromyographic (EMG) activity of several respiratory muscle groups and the accompanying chest wall motion using magnetometers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypopnoea occurred in association with eye movements during phasic rapid eye movement (pREM) sleep. During pREM sleep there were reductions in EMG activity of the intercostal, diaphragm, and upper airway muscles compared with non-REM sleep. Episodic hypopnoea due to partial upper airway occlusion ("obstructive" hypopnoea) was seen consistently in four subjects while the others showed the pattern of "central" hypopnoea accompanied by an overall reduction in inspiratory muscle activity. Although activity of the intercostal muscles was reduced relatively more than that of the diaphragm, lateral rib cage paradox (Hoover's sign) was less obvious during pREM-related hypopnoea than during wakefulness or non-REM sleep.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypopnoea during REM sleep in patients with COPD is associated with reduced inspiratory muscle activity. The pattern of hypopnoea may be either "obstructive" or "central" and is generally consistent within an individual. Relatively unopposed action of the diaphragm on the rib cage during REM sleep is not accompanied by greater lateral inspiratory paradox.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Drinnan
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Smithson
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation / Q000502:physiology; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology*