[Neurophysiologic studies in Pickwickian syndrome].

In 11 patients clinically diagnosed as Pickwickian syndrome the results of daytime and night polysomnogramm were compared. The daytime recording was very efficient in identifying apnoea and correlating various types of apnoea to different sleep stages. In polysomnogramms of night sleep we found, as did Lugaresi, a reduction of sleep stages III and IV, and a slight increase of sleep stages I and II. Patients without apnea in daytime sleep also showed a normal apnea index in night sleep. The BAEP's especially the pontomesencephalic components were pathological in six patients (55%). This might be due to a primary lesion or to hypoxic damage of the brainstem.