ABSTRACT
AIM: The aim is to analyze the sleep architecture using polysomnography (PSG) in patients with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME): (newly diagnosed and those on valproate drug) attending epilepsy clinic at Alexandria University Hospitals. METHODS: This study involved 20 patients with JME on valproate (age: 22.40 ± 5.80 years; M:F = 6:14), 20 newly diagnosed patients (age: 18.55 ± 6.0 years; M:F = 6:14), and 20 matched healthy controls (age: 22.10 ± 5.0 years; M:F = 6:14). Clinical assessment, electroencephalogram (EEG), evaluation with comprehensive sleep questionnaire, and PSG were done for all patients. RESULTS: PSG showed significant alterations in sleep architecture in the total JME group in the form of reduced mean sleep efficiency (p = 0.001∗), increased mean Rapid eye movement (REM) onset latency (p = 0.046∗), decrease mean REM percentage (p = 0.011∗), increased mean wakefulness after sleep onset (p = 0.018∗), increase the index of total arousal (p = 0.005∗), increased mean periodic limb movement index (P = 0.001∗), and reduced apnea hypopnea index (P = <0.001) in comparison to control group. Valproate treated group showed increased sleep efficiency (p = 0.040∗), decreased REM arousal index (P = 0.012), longer stage 3 (P = 0.038), and prolonged stage 2 (P = 0.049∗) than the newly diagnosed group. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep architecture was significantly disturbed in JME, with improvement in sleep efficiency in valproate treated patients.
