Sleep disorders: a risk factor for pseudotumor cerebri?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether sleep-related breathing disorders are common in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension.


METHODS
Medical records of 53 patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension from a tertiary center neuroophthalmology practice were reviewed. Thirty-seven patients were identified who had a history of snoring, difficulty sleeping, or daytime somnolence. The data from polysomnograms were tabulated to determine the frequency of apneas, hypopneas, and arousals.


RESULTS
Fourteen of 37 patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension and symptoms of sleep disturbance underwent polysomnography. There were two men and 12 women varying in age from 24 to 58 years (mean, 39.4 +/- 11.9). These patients were obese with body mass indexes varying from 33.0 to 63.2 (mean, 46.0 +/- 9.5). A diagnosis of sleep apnea was made in six and upper airway resistance syndrome in seven patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Sleep-related breathing problems were common in our patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Obesity was common in these patients and may be playing a causative role in sleep apnea and idiopathic intracranial hypertension. It is suggested that idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients who have symptoms of sleep disturbance should be further evaluated for the presence of sleep-related breathing problems.
Marcus
D M
DM
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912, USA. dmarcus@mail.mcg.edu
Lynn
J
J
Miller
J J
JJ
Chaudhary
O
O
Thomas
D
D
Chaudhary
B
B
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications; D017286:Polysomnography; D011559:Pseudotumor Cerebri / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis