Temporal distribution of sleep onset REM periods and N3 sleep in the MSLT and night polysomnogram of narcolepsy type 1 and other hypersomnias

Introduction: The presence of >= 2 sleep onset REM periods (SOREMP) in the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) and the previous night polysomnogram (PSG) is part of the diagnostic criteria of narcolepsy, with every SOREMP having the same diagnostic value, despite evidence suggesting that time of SOREMP appearance and their preceding sleep stage might be relevant. We studied the temporal distribution of SOREMPs and associated sleep stages in the MSLT of patients with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) and other hypersomnias (OH). Methods: We reviewed consecutive five-nap MSLTs and their preceding PSG from 83 untreated adult patients with hypersomnolence and >= 1 SOREMPs. Wake/N1(W/N1)-SOREMPs, N2-SOREMPs, and N3 sleep presence and time of appearance were analyzed. Results: Thirty-nine patients had NT1 and 44 OH. There were 183 (78%) SOREMPs in patients with NT1 and 83 (31%) in OH. Sixty-seven percent of SOREMPs in NT1 were from W/N1, and 20% -none from wakein OH (p < 0.001). Most patients (94%) with >= 2 W/N1-SOREMPs had NT1 (specificity 95%, sensitivity 82%). In patients with NT1 but not in OH, W/N1-SOREMPs decreased throughout the day (from 79% in the 1st nap to 33% in the preceding night, p < 0.001), whereas N2-SOREMPs did not change. N3 sleep frequency in the 5th nap was higher in NT1 than in OH (28% vs. 7%, p:0.009). Nocturnal-SOREMP plus >= 4 daytime SOREMPs, Wake-REM transitions, and REM followed by N3 were only seen in NT1. Conclusion: Measuring the sleep stage sequence and temporal distribution of SOREMP helps to identify patients with narcolepsy in the MSLT.