Sleep disorder: a possible cause of attention deficit in children and adolescents with Chiari malformation type II.
BACKGROUND
Attention deficit may be related to sleep disorders in Chiari malformation type II (CMII). Our aim is identify sleep disorders and their specific contribution in attention deficit.


METHODS
We selected 24 patients with CM II and 24 without CM II. DSM-IV criteria and a neuropsychological analysis were applied in all. All patients underwent full night polysomnography.


RESULTS
14 CM II patients presented sleep apnea syndrome, REM sleep behavior disorder and periodic limb movement in sleep; six patients without CM II presented sleep apnea syndrome. Among these patients, 12 (six with CM II and six without CM II) presented attention deficit related to the sleep disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
Sleep disorders may impair cognitive functions, as attention, and contribute to poor quality of learning also in patients with CM II.
Henriques Filho
Paulo Sérgio Azeredo
PS
School of Medicine, Brasilia University, Brasília, DF, Brazil. pazeredo@linkexpress.com.br
Pratesi
Riccardo
R