Narcolepsy and Predictors of Positive MSLTs in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort. Sleep Goldbart, A., Peppard, P., Finn, L., Ruoff, C. M., Barnet, J., Young, T., Mignot, E. 2014; 37 (6): 1043-1051

Abstract

To study whether positive multiple sleep latency tests (MSLTs, mean sleep latency [MSL] = 8 minutes, = 2 sleep onset REM sleep periods [SOREMPs]) and/or nocturnal SOREMP (REM sleep latency = 15 minutes during nocturnal polysomonography [NPSG]) are stable traits and can reflect incipient narcolepsy.Cross-sectional and longitudinal investigation of the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study.Adults (44% females, 30-81 years) underwent NPSG (n = 4,866 in 1,518 subjects), and clinical MSLT (n = 1,135), with 823 having a repeat NPSG-MSLT at 4-year intervals, totaling 1725 NPSG with MSLT studies. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models, and the stability of positive MSLTs was explored using ? statistics.Prevalence of a nocturnal SOREMP on a NPSG, of = 2 SOREMPs on the MSLT, of MSL = 8 minutes on the MSLT, and of a positive MSLT (MSL = 8 minutes plus = 2 SOREMPs) were 0.35%, 7.0%, 22%, and 3.4%, respectively. Correlates of a positive MSLT were shift work (OR = 7.8, P = 0.0001) and short sleep (OR = 1.51/h, P = 0.04). Test-retest for these parameters was poor, with ? < 0.2 (n.s.) after excluding shift workers and short sleepers. Excluding shift-work, short sleep, and subjects with negative MSLTs, we found one undiagnosed subject with possible cataplexy (= 1/month) and a NPSG SOREMPs; one subject previously diagnosed with narcolepsy without cataplexy with 2 NPSG SOREMPs and a positive MSLT, and two subjects with 2 independently positive MSLTs (66% human leukocyte antigen [HLA] positive). The proportions for narcolepsy with and without cataplexy were 0.07% (95% CI: 0.02-0.37%) and 0.20% (95% CI: 0.07-0.58%), respectively.The diagnostic value of multiple sleep latency tests is strongly altered by shift work and to a lesser extent by chronic sleep deprivation. The prevalence of narcolepsy without cataplexy may be 3-fold higher than that of narcolepsy-cataplexy.Goldbart A, Peppard P, Finn L, Ruoff CM, Barnet J, Young T, Mignot E. Narcolepsy and predictors of positive MSLTs in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort. SLEEP 2014;37(6):1043-1051.

View details for DOI 10.5665/sleep.3758

View details for PubMedID 24882899

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4015378