title: Autonomic dysfunction in primary sleep disorders.
abstract: The autonomic nervous system plays an important role in the coordination of many important physiologic functions during sleep. Many patients with untreated sleep disorders will describe symptoms of autonomic impairment, and a majority of patients with autonomic impairment have some form of sleep disorder. This article will explore possible explanations for this connection, as well as review the current literature on autonomic impairment in common primary sleep disorders including obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, narcolepsy, and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Stanford University, 211 Quarry Rd, 2nd Floor, M/C 5992, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. Electronic address: mmiglis@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Mitchell G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Miglis
mesh_terms: D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Autonomic; Insomnia; Narcolepsy; Obstructive sleep apnea; Restless legs syndrome; Sleep