[Body movements during sleep in Lennox syndrome].

In Lennox syndrome the brainstem which plays important roles in regulating sleep and its parameters is thought to be disturbed. In order to clarify the importance of the dysfunction of the brainstem in Lennox syndrome, polygraphic examination were studied and their findings were assessed with prognosis. 8 patients aged from 6 to 17 years were subjected to this study. They were divided into two groups according to their prognosis. Group 1 showed good prognosis. Seizures were easily controllable and have not occurred for more than 24 months. In group 2 seizures were intractable and were uncontrollable by medication. In 4 normal children ranging in age from 4 to 10 years, the same studies were performed. Recordings were performed on two consecutive nights and the second night recordings were used for analysis. Polygraph consisted of EEG from C4 and P4, bipolar EOG from electrode attached to outer canthus, surface EMG from submental muscle and 5 or 6 other muscles including trunk and limbs. Sleep stages were determined in each minute according to the standard of APSS. Body movements were classified into two types on the basis of their distribution over body parts and on duration of movements. Gross movements (GM) involved the body trunk and lasted for more than two seconds. Twitch movements (TM) were localized in one muscle on surface EMG recordings lasting less than 0.5 seconds. In normal children, the rate of GM in sleep stage 1 and REM are significantly higher than slow wave sleep. And this is the same in TM of all muscles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)