Sleep and neuromuscular disorders.
Nocturnal sleep-related ventilatory alterations may occur in dis-proportion to the severity of the neuromuscular disorder. Diaphragm paralysis occurring with a neuromuscular disorder is an overlooked complication. Failure to thrive, daytime tiredness, and incapacitating fatigue may be the result of a correctable sleep-related abnormality, not the result of relentless progression of a neuromuscular condition. Polysomnographic evaluation is recommended for patients who have neuromuscular disorder who develop symptoms and signs of sleep-wake abnormality or nocturnal respiratory failure. Application of noninvasive positive airway ventilation and, in some cases, administration of supple-mental oxygen may improve quality of life and prolong survival of patients who have neuromuscular disorder.
Culebras
Antonio
A
Department of Neurology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA. aculebras@aol.com
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000453:epidemiology; D009223:Myotonic Dystrophy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017286:Polysomnography; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology