[Oral appliances or maxillomandibular advancement osteotomy for severe obstructive sleep apnoea in patients refusing CPAP]. / Orthèse d'avancée mandibulaire ou ostéotomie maxillo-mandibulaire pour le traitement des syndromes d'apnées obstructives du sommeil sévères refusant la PPC.

OBJECTIVES: The management of patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) refusing or not tolerating continuous positive pressure ventilation (CPAP) remains problematic. We evaluated the effectiveness of oral appliances and of maxillomandibular advancement osteotomy. METHODS: One hundred and two patients with severe OSAS were included between 2001 and 2006. Maxillo-mandibular advancement osteotomy was proposed to patients less than 60 years of age, non obese and without comorbidities. The other patients were treated with oral appliances. All patients underwent polysomnography at 3 months. RESULTS: Group A: 25 patients with mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) at 45/h were treated by maxillo-mandibular advancement. Three months after the surgery, AHI had decreased from 45 to 7. The success rate was 89% when AHI was less than 15/h and 74% when AHI was less than 10/h. Sixteen patients performed a polysomnography one year after surgery with similar results. There were no major postoperative complications. Group B: 77 patients with a mean AHI at 41/h were treated with oral appliances. Only 23 patients underwent polysomnography at 3 months. The mean AHI had decreased from 41/h to 22/h. The success rate was 56% when AHI was less than 15/h and 30% when AHI was less than 10/h. DISCUSSION: We are confronted with an increasing number of severe OSAS patients with CPAP failure or intolerance. Surgery for maxillo-mandibular advancement is an effective alternative. However, it is not always indicated or accepted by the patient. So an oral appliance remains a useful therapeutic option despite its moderate success rate.

Efficacy of modafinil on excessive daytime sleepiness in Prader-Willi syndrome.

Excessive daytime sleepiness is a frequent and a highly disruptive symptom to the daily routine of children with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) and their families. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of modafinil, a central stimulant, on excessive daytime sleepiness in children and adolescents with PWS. The efficacy of modafinil was evaluated in this open label pilot study comparing the Epworth sleepiness scale before and after treatment. Ten patients with molecularly confirmed PWS and a complaint of excessive daytime sleepiness underwent a night-time sleep recording and multiple sleep latency tests. One patient was excluded because of severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Nine patients (4 males) with median age of 16 years (8-21) received modafinil at a starting dose of 100 mg/day. We found that all patients had excessive daytime sleepiness with an Epworth sleepiness scale at 14 (11-20) and mean sleep latency on multiple sleep latency tests at 5 (3-6) minutes. Moreover, six patients had at least two sleep-onset rapid eye movement periods showing a narcolepsy-like phenotype. Modafinil significantly improved sleepiness in all patients on the Epworth sleepiness scale from 14 (11-20) to 4 (3-12), (P = 0.007). Body mass index of the patients did not change significantly under treatment. No side effects were reported, and the drug was well-tolerated. We posit that this open label case series shows good efficacy of modafinil in nine children and adolescents with PWS.

Sleep disorders and their impacts on healthy, dependent, and frail older adults.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders differ widely in the heterogeneous older adult population. Older adults can be classified into three groups based upon their overall level of disability: healthy, dependent, and frail. Frailty is an emerging concept that denotes older persons at increased risk for poor outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this consensus review is to describe the sleep disorders observed in healthy and dependent older adults and to discuss the potential sleep disorders associated with frailty as well as their potential consequences on this weakened population. METHODS: A review task force was created including neurologists, geriatricians, sleep specialists and geriatric psychiatrists to discuss age related sleep disorders depending on the three categories of older adults. All published studies on sleep in older adults on Ovid Medline were reviewed and 106 articles were selected for the purpose of this consensus. RESULTS: Many healthy older adults have complains about their sleep such as waking not rested and too early, trouble falling asleep, daytime napping, and multiple nocturnal awakenings. Sleep architecture is modified by age with an increased percentage of time spent in stage one and a decreased percentage spent in stages three and four. Insomnia is frequent and its mechanisms include painful medical conditions, psychological distress, loss of physical activity and iatrogenic influences. Treatments are also involved in older adults' somnolence. The prevalence of primary sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movements and sleep disordered breathing increases with age. Potential outcomes relevant to these sleep disorders in old age include mortality, cardiovascular and neurobehavioral co-morbidities. Sleep in dependent older adults such as patients with Alzheimer Disease (AD) is disturbed. The sleep patterns observed in these patients are often similar to those observed in non-demented elderly but alterations are more severe. Nocturnal sleep disruption and daytime sleepiness are the main problems. They are the results of Sleep/wake circadian rhythm disorders, environmental, psychological and iatrogenic factors. They are worsened by other sleep disorders such as sleep disordered breathing. Sleep in frail older adults per se has not yet been formally studied but four axes of investigation should be considered: i) sleep architecture abnormalities, ii) insomnia iii) restless legs syndrome (RLS), iv) sleep disordered breathing. CONCLUSION: Our knowledge in the field of sleep disorders in older adults has increased in recent years, yet some groups within this heterogeneous population, such as frail older adults, remain to be more thoroughly studied and characterized.

Cerebral autoregulation in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome during wakefulness.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is an independent risk factor for stroke. Impairment of cerebral autoregulation may play a potential role in the pre-disposition to stroke of OSAS patients. In this study, we aimed to assess dynamic cerebral autoregulation (DCA) during wakefulness in OSAS patients and a group of matched controls. METHODS: Patients and controls were examined in the morning after an overnight complete polysomnography. Mean cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) in the middle cerebral artery and mean arterial blood pressure (ABP) were continuously recorded using transcranial Doppler and Finapres. DCA was assessed using the Mx autoregulatory index. Mx is a moving correlation coefficient between mean CBFV and mean ABP. More positive value of Mx indicates worse autoregulation. RESULTS: Eleven OSAS patients (mean age +/- SD; 52.6 +/- 7.9) and 9 controls (mean age +/- SD; 49.1 +/- 5.3) were enrolled. The mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in the OSAS group was of 22.7 +/- 11.6. No significant difference was found between the two groups as for age, body mass index, mean ABP and endtidal CO(2) pressure. Cerebral autoregulation was impaired in OSAS patients compared with controls (Mx index: 0.414 +/- 0.138 vs. 0.233 +/- 0.100; P = 0.009). The severity of autoregulation impairment correlated to the severity of the sleep respiratory disturbance measured by the AHI (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Cerebral autoregulation is impaired in patients with OSAS during wakefulness. Impairment of cerebral autoregulation is correlated with the severity of OSAS.

[Mandibular advancement surgery in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea uncontrolled by continuous positive airway pressure. A retrospective review of 25 patients between 1998 and 2004]. / Prise en charge par chirurgie d'avancée des maxillaires des patients porteurs d'un syndrome d'apnées du sommeil sévère en échec d'un traitement par pression positive continue: étude rétrospective de 25 patients entre 1998 et 2004.

INTRODUCTION: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is ineffective in some patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and some patients do not tolerate it. This study evaluated the outcomes of maxillo-mandibular advancement in OSAS patients without morbid obesity or severe maxillo-mandibular deformity who had first been treated with CPAP for at least 6 months. METHODS: A retrospective study reporting on the experience of the CHU Toulouse Rangueil sleep disorder centre between 1998 and 2004. We performed polysomnography and cephalometry before and 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: 25 male patients with mean apnoea hypopnoea index at 45/hour (+/-15) were treated by maxillo-mandibular advancement. The mean age of participants was 48 years (+/-7), and the mean body mass index was 28 kg/m2 (+/-3.4). Cephalometry demonstrated a retroposition of the mandible (SNB < 80 degrees +/-5) and narrow linguopharyngeal space (ELP = 8 mm+/-3). 3 months after surgery the apnoea hypopnoea index (AHI) had decreased from 45+/-15 to 7+/-7 (p < 0.0001), the Epworth sleepiness scale decreased from 11+/-5 to 6+/-4 (p < 0.01). The linguopharyngeal space was larger (ELP = 14 mm). Success rate defined as an AHI < 15/hour was 89%, and 74% for an AHI < 10/hour. 16 patients underwent polysomnography one year after surgery. The results were the same. There were no post surgical complications, except for one patient who developed permanent labial hypoesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Maxillo-mandibular advancement seems to be an effective 2nd line therapy for the treatment of severe OSAS.

Effect of ropinirole on sleep onset: a randomized, placebo-controlled study in healthy volunteers.

Somnolence and "sleep attacks" have been reported as an adverse effect of several antiparkinsonian drugs. The authors document, in a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, crossover study performed in 20 healthy volunteers, using the Multiple System Latency Test (MSLT) as primary outcome, that ropinirole reduces time to sleep onset in humans. Ropinirole therapy was not associated with daytime episodes of rapid eyes movement (REM) sleep.

Craniofacial differences according to the body mass index of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: cephalometric study in 85 patients.

We examined the craniofacial characteristics of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and correlated them with the body mass index (BMI (weight (kg) x height (m2)). Eighty-five men with OSAS diagnosed by conventional polysomonography were divided into two groups according to their BMI (< 30 and > or = 30). Cephalometry was analysed by using 31 measurements of the size of the bone structures, their relationships and the size of the airways. The groups were comparable for age and the apnoea-hypopnoea index (mean 49, standard deviation (SD) 23). Patient with a BMI < 30 had a shorter anterior floor of cranial base, a smaller mandible and retroposition of the mandible compared with severly obese patients. These skeletal differences were associated with narrower velopharyngeal and linguopharyngeal spaces. This study sh ows that there is a craniofacial difference between two populations, divided according to their BMI.

[Comparison of the cephalometric characteristics of snoring patients and apneic patients as a function of the degree of obesity. Apropos of 162 cases]. / Comparaison des caractéristiques céphalométriques de patients ronfleurs et apnéiques en fonction du degré d'obésité. A propos de 162 cas.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to compare cephalometric analysis of craniofacial features in normal weight or obese subjects who are habitual snorers or apneic. We conducted a retrospective comparison of their clinical and cephalometric features by degree of obesity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty two male subjects with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) diagnosed by conventional polysomnography were included in the study. Patients were divided into four groups according to their body mass index (BMI) and their apnea/hypopnea index (AHI: Group 1 = normal-weight snorers (34 patients), Group 2 = normal-weight apneic subjects (40 patients), Group 3 = obese snorers (20 patients), Group 4 = obese apneic subjects (68 patients). Lateral cephalometry was performed in all patients. Intergroup comparisons (2/4, 1/2, 3/4) were made using 32 parameters to study the influence of the size of bone structures, their relationships, and size of the upper airways. RESULTS: The four groups were comparable for age. AHI was higher for group 4 (obese apneic) compared with group 1 (normal-weight snorers). Compared with group 3 (obese snorers), group 1 (normal-weight snorers) had a retroposition of the mandible (smaller SNB and ANB angle), an accentuated facial divergence and a narrower pharyngeal space at the hyoid bone level. Compared with group 1 (normal-weight snorers), group 2 (normal-weight apneic) had a narrower pharyngeal space at different levels. Compared with group 3 (obese snorers), group 4 (obese apneic) had a lower hyoid bone evaluated with different cephalometric variables. CONCLUSION: This study mainly shows that apneic patients exhibit craniofacial differences when divided into two groups according to their body mass index. Our findings are consistent with previous reports and could suggest a dual etiology of OSAS.

[Upper airway changes after mandibular setback osteotomy. Concerns for obstructive sleep apnea]. / Modification des voies aériennes supérieures après ostéotomie de recul mandibulaire. Intérêt en pathologie obstructive du sommeil.

INTRODUCTION: Cases of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome have been described after setback osteotomy. Although such cases are rare, they emphasize the importance of taking into account the structure of the upper airways when performing this type of procedure. We studied the modifications provoked in the upper airways by mandibular setback osteotomy performed for dysmorphism. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We conducted a retrospective cephalometric study in a series of 25 patients. Preoperative and late postoperative films were digitalized to obtain a precise measurement of the bone displacements and changes in the caliber of the retrovelar and retrolingual spaces. The statistical analysis examined the parameters modified by surgery, particularly airway parameters, and those factors which influenced these modifications. RESULTS: We observed a reduction in the retrolingual space [mean 1.7 mm (p < 0.05)] and displacement of the hyoid bone [mean 2 mm lowering compared with the bi-spinal plane (p < 0.05) and 4.1 mm setback in the Francfort projection (p < 0.01)]. These modifications were not correlated with the mandibular setback (measured as the gonial mental angle) but were strongly dependent on variations in the gonial angle. In 20% of the cases, mandibular setback produced a paradoxical effect: enlargement of the airways. DISCUSSION: Little work has been done on the modifications in the upper airways provoked by osteotomies. Mandibular setback osteotomy can, though only a few cases have been reported, create an anatomic situation favoring obstructive sleep apnea. This series demonstrated the very wide variability of the effects on the upper airways. CONCLUSION: The risk of apnea should be included as an important parameter in assessing indications for setback osteotomy.

[Results of 248 patients with sleep apnea syndrome treated by continuous positive pressure ventilation between 1990 and 1995. A study of compliance and outcome of the apnea-hypopnea index]. / Suivi de 248 patients présentant un syndrome d'apnée du sommeil traités par pression positive continue entre 1990 et 1995. Etude de l'observance et du devenir de l'index d'apnée-hypopnée.

Between 1990 and 1995, 369 patients were investigated for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) by polysomnography. Among them, 248 patients with a mean Apnea-Hyponea index (AHI) of 37.7 per hour were treated by nasal continuous positive airway pressure (n-CPAP). Mean follow up was 39.5 +/- 20.4 months. In this group, 23 patients (9.2%) refused nCPAP immediately or after the first night and 39 (15.7%) gave up later. 15 patients (6%) died during the period of the study. The cumulative compliance reached 70% at 72 months. Non compliant patients usually gave up n-CPAP before the end of the first year. We compared the group of 150 patients always treated at the date of 31/12/95 with the group of 62 patients who refused nCPAP initially or gave up later. There was no difference in clinical parameters or polysomnographic data between the two groups. In 94 patients treated by nCPAP for more than a year we evaluated the outcome of AHI by a polysomnography performed after 72 hours of nCPAP cessation. Mean AHI of the group at this time was 38.2 +/- 20.3/h and was well correlated with the initial index (r = 0.41, p < 0.0001). However for 28 patients (29.7%) we observed, at the time of this second AHI determination, a variation (plus or minus) of at least 50% of the index. 6 patients, without any significative weigth loss, had an AHI below 5/h at this second determination. In this small group nCPAP was interrupted for 6 to 12 months, then another polysomnography was performed. At this time mean AHI was 42.4/h and clinical symptoms had reappeared in all patients. This study demonstrated that compliance to nCPAP in OSAS patients is good. No clinical or polysomnographic factors allow to predict non compliance. AHI is not modified by long term treatment with nCPAP.

[Role of nocturnal oximetry in screening for sleep apnea syndrome in pulmonary medicine. Study of 329 patients]. / Place de l'oxymétrie nocturne dans le dépistage du syndrome d'apnée du sommeil en milieu pneumologique. Etude de 329 patients.

Nocturnal oximetry can show nocturnal oxygen desaturation. This examination was proposed as an investigation for the early detection of the sleep apnoea syndrome (SAS). We have compared the results of nocturnal oximetry and polysomnography in 329 consecutive patients seen in the department of thoracic medicine for the early detection of the SAS between June 1990 and June 1995. The diagnosis of SAS was confirmed at the time of polysomnography using an hypopnoea/apnoea index (IAH) greater or equal to 15 per hour. Two parameters of oximetry were well correlated with IAH less than 15 per hour: if the mean oxygen saturation is greater than 92% and for less than five per cent of the time of the examination there was a saturation of less than 90%. The sensitivity was 89.7% and the specificity was 57.8%. Among the 48 false positive cases on oximetry 17 patients were found to be suffering from COPD and 31 patients were probably suffering from a syndrome of upper airways resistance or possibly from the hypoventilation obesity syndrome. Amongst the 22 false, negatives to oximetry 10 non COPD patients with an IAH of greater than 30 per hour and diurnal somnolence had important anomalies of the oro-pharyngeal pathway as the origin of their nocturnal apnoea. The 12 other false negatives were patients with moderate SAS with an IAH of between 15 and 20 per hour. Logistical analysis has shown the association of the two oximetric criteria (mean oxygen saturation or percentage of time with a saturation of less than 5%) with clinical criteria (body mass index and formation on diurnal somnolence from a questionnaire) would enable a probable diagnosis of SAS in 75% of cases. Our study shows that nocturnal oximetry used an early diagnosis test, associated with clinical and respiratory function data enables the number of requests for polysomnography to be reduced.

[Poorly understood sleep disorders in depression]. / Les pathologies meconnues du sommeil au cours de la depression.

Although the clinical symptoms of severe depression are easily recognized, this is not always the case in minimal forms or in certain masked depressions. Failure to respond to appropriate treatment may then be taken to indicate the possible existence of specific and organic sleep disorders with clinical symptoms similar to those of depressive illness. Sleep disorders mainly comprise sleep apnea and periodic movement of the lower limbs. Diagnosis can only be confirmed by EPS before a specific treatment is selected : correct diagnosis of the disorder is essential, particularly for sleep apnea, since standard drug therapy for depression and anxiety disorders often includes benzodiazepines, which, through the depressant effect they exert on the respiratory centers, only worsen symptoms.

Brain electrical activity mapping in the study of visual development and amblyopia in young children.

Brain electrical activity mapping (BEAM) allows the study of electrical visual reactivity on a computerized electroencephalogram (EEG). We carried out 150 BEAM studies on 120 infants to evaluate the usefulness and reliability of this noninvasive technique in the assessment of vision in very young children, compared with other methods (clinical testing, preferential looking, and visual evoked potentials). BEAM demonstrated amblyopia at a cortical level and showed specific electrical signs of amblyopia. The visual reactivity was variably affected depending on the type of amblyopia present. In addition, different results of BEAM corresponded to different kinds of visual maturation delay and strabismus in the absence of amblyopia. BEAM appears to be useful in the initial screening and during treatment of deprivation and strabismic amblyopia, especially when other methods have failed to elicit the level of vision.

[Drowsiness and traffic accidents. Importance of diagnosis]. / Somnolence et accidents de la circulation routière. Importance du diagnostic.

"Tiredness", often cited in civil and penal responsibilities secondary to car accidents, hides neurophysiological phenomena which must now be taken into account. The problems of watchfulness in car-driving, is sleepiness, are indeed linked to a genuine disorder in the sleep-wake rythm and attention should be drawn to them in medico-legal cases. Investigations and clinical examinations concerning 110 experts' reports confirm the role played by sleep' disorders in the occurrence of car accidents. Prevention in actually possible. Early detection can take place at various levels and concerns general practitioners, specialists of industrial medicine and specialists for driving tests. In France, the list of diseases associated with, and retraining of a driving license refer only to concentration disorders induced by drug administration, but do not mention sleep pathologies (sleep apnea syndrome, narcolepsy, etc). What is the responsibility of a driver who ignores or says nothing about a sleep pathology from which he is suffering? Is it really necessary to include these pathologies on such a list? It could be more useful to make a large audience; including children, aware of the physiology and pathology of sleep. It appears, from experts' reports, that the management of the problem requires a "driving hygiene".

[Effect of sleep on blood pressure]. / Influence du sommeil sur la pression artérielle.

UNLABELLED: Seventeen normotensive subjects have their blood pressure recorded each 10 mn, at home, from 7 pm to 9 am, by Spacelabs 5200, and undergo polygraphic, recording of EEG, activity of the mylohyoid muscle and horizontal oculogram allowing in this way to specify the different sleeping stages. The analysis method using increasing rates of SBP, DBP and HR according to different sleeping stages, has showed following results: 1--the pre sleep period (one hour before sleep) is marked by a decrease in blood pressures, with SBP changing sooner than DBP. HR is the variable which fluctuates the most. 2--during the sleeping period, no correlation has been noticed between different sleeping stages and the variations of SBP, DBP and HR. 3--the wakening period is characterized by a concomitant increase of the 3 variables, however this increase occurs indifferently depending on the subjects, before, during or after wakening. Furthermore the rising slope of blood pressure is markedly greater, in absolute value, than the blood pressure fall before sleep. CONCLUSION: The organization of sleep does not seem to have a determining influence on nocturnal blood pressure evolution.

Growth hormone treatment in patients with neurosecretory dysfunction.

Twenty-four children (14 boys and 10 girls) with neurosecretory dysfunction, defined by a response greater than 10 ng/ml to two pharmacological tests, and 24-hour GH secretion less than 3 ng/ml/min, were treated with biosynthetic hGH. Mean age was 10 years 8 months +/- 3 years 6 months. Growth retardation was -2.8 +/- 0.8 SD. Eighteen children were prepubertal and six pubertal (P2). Mean peaks in two pharmacological stimulation tests were 25.8 +/- 14.8 and 20.8 +/- 11.5 ng/ml. Somatomedin C/insulin-like growth factor I level was 0.8 +/- 0.6 IU/ml in the prepubertal children. Twenty-four-hour integrated concentration of GH was low, at 2.2 +/- 0.5 ng/ml/min. Analysis of secretory profiles showed 3 types: (1) hyperpulsatile profile with numerous peaks of low amplitude, (2) flat profile, (3) profile with an isolated peak greater than 10 ng/ml. Treatment with hGH (0.42 IU/kg/week) resulted in an increase in growth velocity from 4.9 +/- 1.2 to 6.8 +/- 2.2 cm/year. These results are comparable to those of a group with total GH deficiency receiving the same dose. Analysis of the results showed a group of good responders (n = 14, growth velocity: 8.1 cm/year) and a group of poor responders (n = 10, growth velocity: 4.9 cm/year). Thus, treatment of neurosecretory dysfunction with hGH gives results comparable to those obtained in classic GH secretory dysfunction.

[Chronobiologic organization of sleep]. / L'organisation chronobiologique du sommeil.

Interrelations between sleep and chronobiology as been studied in isolated experimental situations. A succession of hormonal regulations has been described to explain these mechanisms. Some disruptions of these regulations might be at the beginning of a lot of sleep pathologies (jet lag syndrome, burn out syndrome, insomnia...).