ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the incidence rate, onset time and electrophysiological characteristics of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and the relationship between RBD and synucleinopathies as well as the electrophysiological diagnostic criteria of RBD in Parkinson' s disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Methods Sleep survey and night video-polysomnography (NPSG)were used to study sleep disturbance of PD and MSA. (1) Subjective sleep assessments: All subjects,including 66 PD patients, 65 age and sex matched healthy controls and 30 MSA patients, completed the sleep questionnaires, and the RBD incidence rate and onset time were got. (2) Objective sleep assessments: 8 PD patients, 13 MSA patients, and 15 age and sex matched healthy controls underwent video-NPSG recording on two consecutive nights. Sleep architect were analyzed. The NPSG characteristics of RBD accompany with PD and MSA were analyzed, and the electrophysiological diagnostic varameters of it were determined. Results Patients with PD or MSA had a higher prevalence of RBD. RBD was found in 59. 1% (39/66) PD patients and 86. 6% (26/30) MSA patients, among those, 46. 2% ( 18/39 ) and 84.6% (22/26) had the waking symptoms of MSA and PD. The main NPSG characteristics of RBD of PD or MSA were chin REM without atonia (RWA) and increased movement. Conclusions The relatively higher RBD prevalence in MSA and PD patients indicates that RBD has close relationship with PD and MSA.Part of patients with RBD preceding neurology disease indicates that RBD may be the early marker of PD and MSA. The main NPSG characteristics of RBD accompany with PD and MSA are chin RWA and the motor manifestations. RWA and phasic EMG activity density are supposed to be the NPSG diagnostic parameters.