Comparative analysis of multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT) parameters and occurrence of dreaming in patients with daytime sleepiness of narcoleptic and non-narcoleptic origin.
OBJECTIVE
To compare MSLT parameters in two groups of patients with daytime sleepiness, correlated to the occurrence and onset of dreams.


METHODS
Patients were submitted to the MSLT between January/1999 and June/2002. Sleep onset latency, REM sleep latency and total sleep time were determined. The occurrence of dreams was inquired following each MSLT series. Patients were classified as narcoleptic (N) or non-narcoleptic (NN).


RESULTS
Thirty patients were studied, 12 were classified as narcoleptics (N group; 40%), while the remaining 18 as non-narcoleptic (NN group; 60%). Thirty MSLT were performed, resulting in 146 series. Sleep was detected in 126 series (86%) and dreams in 56 series (44.44%). Mean sleep time in the N group was 16.0+/-6.3 min, while 10.5+/-7.5 min in the NN group (p<0.0001). Mean sleep latency was 2.0+/-2.2 min and 7.2+/-6.0 min in the N and NN group, respectively (p<0.001). Mean REM sleep latency in the N group was 3.2+/-3.1min and 6.9+/-3.7 min in the NN group (p=0.021). Dreams occurred in 56.9% of the N group series and 28.4% in that of the NN group (p=0.0009). Dream frequency was detected in 29.8% and 75% of the NREM series of the N and NN groups, respectively (p=0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients from the N group, compared to the NN group, slept longer and earlier, demonstrated a shorter REM sleep onset and greater dream frequency. NN patients had a greater dream frequency in NREM series. Thus, the occurrence of dreams during NREM in the MSLT may contribute to differentially diagnose narcolepsy and daytime sleepiness.
Waihrich
Eduardo Siqueira
ES
Hospital Universitário de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil. eduwaihrich@ig.com.br
Rodrigues
Raimundo Nonato Delgado
RN
Silveira
Henrique Aragão
HA
Fróes
Fernando da Fonseca Melo
Fda F
Rocha
Guilherme Henrique da Silva
GH
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004325:Dreams / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000503:physiopathology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology