[Sleep apnea in myasthenia gravis].

19 middle-aged patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and 10 age-matched controls underwent overnight polysomnography and neuropsychological testing, in order to assess the frequency, degree, type and risk factors of sleep apneas in MG and to show their influence on sleep profile and neuropsychological variables. We observed in 60% of the myasthenics, low grade central type of sleep apneas and hypopneas with resulting oxygen desaturations, occasionally occurring during REM-sleep without influence on sleep profile and vigilance but resulting in significant memory impairment. The only found risk factor for the development of sleep apneas was age.