title: Primary sleep disorders can cause long-term sleep disturbance in patients with autoimmune mediated limbic encephalitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Antibody mediated limbic encephalitis causes a sub acute encephalopathy with an amnestic syndrome, seizures and often an affective prodrome. Sleep disturbance including abnormal dream sleep and insomnia are described in a percentage of long-term survivors but there are very few detailed assessments of sleep disturbance in patients beyond the acute phase of illness. The objectives of this study were to understand the causes of sleep disturbance in the long-term survivors of antibody mediated limbic encephalitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We screened twelve patients under long-term follow up with sleep questionnaires and went on to perform detailed sleep studies (polysomnography) in those who reported sleep disturbance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two were found to have persistent, severe central and obstructive sleep apnoea and two others to have restless legs and periodic limb movements of sleep.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This highlights the need to investigate sleep disturbance in this group of patients. Effective treatments may be available to improve quality of life and daytime function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, United Kingdom. kirstie.anderson@nuth.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Kirstie N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000647:Amnesia / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000209:etiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D020363:Limbic Encephalitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020189:Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D017286:Polysomnography; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology