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Case Reports
. 2018 Feb 15;14(2):285-287.
doi: 10.5664/jcsm.6954.

Adult-Onset Sleepwalking Secondary to Hyperthyroidism: Polygraphic Evidence

Loretta Giuliano  1 , Daniela Fatuzzo  1 , Greta Mainieri  1 , Sandro La Vignera  2 , Vito Sofia  1 , Mario Zappia  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Adult-Onset Sleepwalking Secondary to Hyperthyroidism: Polygraphic Evidence

Loretta Giuliano et al. J Clin Sleep Med. .

Abstract

Sleepwalking is a disorder characterized by complex motor behaviors arising from slow wave sleep usually occurring in children. The adult onset of sleepwalking suggests the presence of an external precipitating factor leading to the occurrence of the disorder. Hyperthyroidism has been reported to be the possible cause of sleepwalking in a few cases. We present the case of a 36-year-old man who reported a sudden appearance of nocturnal episodes of sleepwalking. He underwent a complete video polysomnography (VPSG), which showed a polygraphic pattern arising from stage N3 sleep related to the presence of simple motor behaviors. Routine blood tests showed a mild hyperthyroidism. After 4 months of thyrostatic treatment, the patient reported no more sleepwalking events. A VPSG performed at the last follow-up showed the absence of pathological electroclinical events arising from stage N3 sleep. Therefore, we hypothesize that there is a link between sleepwalking and thyroid dysfunction in our patient.

Keywords: hyperthyroidism; sleepwalking; video polysomnography.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) VPSG of the patient demonstrating an electroclinical event compatible with an episode of disorder of arousal, associated with a simple motor behavior during stage N3 sleep. (B) VPSG of the patient after the treatment showing a normal stage N3 sleep epoch. LF = 1.6 Hz, HF = 30 Hz, sweep = 60'', sensitivity = 70 μV/cm, VPSG = video polysomnography.
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