Sleep in Neuromuscular Diseases

Abstract

Sleep disorders in neuromuscular disorders are generally caused by respiratory dysfunction associated with these diseases. Hypoventilation in neuromuscular diseases results from both respiratory muscle weakness and reduced chemoreceptor sensitivity, which is required for ventilatory drive. This condition results in repeated arousals, sleep fragmentation, and nocturnal hypoxemia, manifesting most commonly as excessive daytime somnolence. Polysomnography can identify sleep disordered breathing in patients with neuromuscular disorders and treatment with noninvasive ventilation may improve quality of life.

Keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Motor neuron disease; Myasthenia gravis; Myotonic dystrophy; Neuromuscular disease; Neuromuscular junction disorder; Phrenic nerve damage; Spinal cord disorders.