OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND: Excessive fragmentary myoclonus (EFM) is characterized by subtle arrhythmic and excessive jerks that are usually asymmetric and asynchronous. EFM occurs in different areas of the body, mainly the face and distal parts of the arms and legs, and is detected by surface electromyography during sleep. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of EFM in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients at a tertiary level outpatient clinic as well as to describe the clinical and polysomnographic profiles of these patients. METHODS: A total of 62 consecutive PD patients were included in the study. Patients were evaluated using the Brazilian version of the PD Sleep Scale, Portuguese Language version of Epworth's Daytime Sleepiness Scale validated for Brazilian population, Brazilian Portuguese version of PD Quality of Life Scale, and Global Deterioration Scale. Evaluation of the sleep disorders was performed by clinical interview and polysomnography. RESULTS: EFM was found in 62.7% of PD patients. EFM was found to be associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and advanced age. CONCLUSIONS: EFM occurs in a significantly high proportion of PD patients and is related to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and advanced age, so EFM should be systematically investigated by polysomnography (PSG) in PD patients.
OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND:Excessive fragmentary myoclonus (EFM) is characterized by subtle arrhythmic and excessive jerks that are usually asymmetric and asynchronous. EFM occurs in different areas of the body, mainly the face and distal parts of the arms and legs, and is detected by surface electromyography during sleep. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of EFM in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients at a tertiary level outpatient clinic as well as to describe the clinical and polysomnographic profiles of these patients. METHODS: A total of 62 consecutive PDpatients were included in the study. Patients were evaluated using the Brazilian version of the PD Sleep Scale, Portuguese Language version of Epworth's Daytime Sleepiness Scale validated for Brazilian population, Brazilian Portuguese version of PD Quality of Life Scale, and Global Deterioration Scale. Evaluation of the sleep disorders was performed by clinical interview and polysomnography. RESULTS: EFM was found in 62.7% of PDpatients. EFM was found to be associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and advanced age. CONCLUSIONS: EFM occurs in a significantly high proportion of PDpatients and is related to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and advanced age, so EFM should be systematically investigated by polysomnography (PSG) in PDpatients.
Authors: Regina Margis; Karina Donis; Suzana Veiga Schönwald; Simone Chaves Fagondes; Thais Monte; Pablo Martín-Martínez; K Ray Chaudhuri; Flávio Kapczinski; Carlos R M Rieder Journal: Parkinsonism Relat Disord Date: 2009-02-10 Impact factor: 4.891
Authors: Birgit Frauscher; Alexander Kunz; Elisabeth Brandauer; Hanno Ulmer; Werner Poewe; Birgit Högl Journal: Sleep Med Date: 2011-04 Impact factor: 3.492