Does multiple system atrophy itself affect sleep structure?
OBJECTIVE
Reports on sleep in multiple system atrophy (MSA) are rare and many confounding variables affect the results. Among them, obstructive sleep apnea and periodic limb movements during sleep are very common. We conducted this study to see the changes of sleep parameters originating from MSA itself without confounders.


METHODS
We compared polysomnographic variables of 15 MSA patients and 15 age-, gender-, apnea-hypopnea index-, and periodic limb movements index-matched controls. We also applied cyclic alternating pattern scoring in 7 MSA patients and 7 controls.


RESULTS
Total sleep time and sleep efficiency are decreased in MSA. Wake after sleep onset, sleep onset latency, and stage 2 latency are prolonged. There is no difference in the proportion of slow wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep between MSA patients and the controls. Cyclic alternating pattern scoring shows no difference, either.


CONCLUSIONS
MSA itself does not affect the macro- and microstructures of sleep. However, patients with MSA sleep less and it cannot be explained by obstructive sleep apnea and periodic limb movements during sleep.
Nam
Hyunwoo
H
Department of Neurology, Boramae Hospital, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Hong
Yoon-Ho
YH
Kwon
Hyung-Min
HM
Cho
Jinwhan
J
D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000188:drug therapy; D017286:Polysomnography; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects
D015259:Dopamine Agents; D007980:Levodopa