Study Details Treatment Options for Sleep Disorder with Myotonic Dystrophy

A recent study conducted assessments of sleep disorders and treatment methods in 120 participants with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), determining that targeted sleep therapies were dependent on individual’s symptoms and disorder.

Participants were between 18 and 74 years old with a mean body mass index of 27.9 kg/m2 and had a mean Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS) of 13.1. Overnight sleep assessments were performed and 21 patients were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), 33 patients were diagnosed with respiratory failure, and 36 were diagnosed with excessive daytime sleepiness.
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After diagnosis, patients with OSA were treated with continuous positive airway pressure. Of the 21 patients with OSA, 7 benefited from and continued continuous positive airway pressure treatment, while 14 were intolerant or saw no benefit.

Patients with respiratory failure were treated with noninvasive ventilation, 12 of whom benefited from and continued the treatment, while 18 had intolerance or saw no benefit. One participant died during the study and 2 declined starting treatment.

Participants with daytime sleepiness were treated with modafinil. Of the 36 patients, 12 benefited from treatment and continued, but 10 had intolerance or saw no benefit. Eleven did not continue with the treatment, 2 had other sleep disorders, and 1 was not motivated to start treatment for daytime sleepiness.

“Comparing means of treatment responders to non-responders showed no significant different in any variable, except ESS: 15.9 vs 11.9,” the researchers stated.

Overall, 29% of participants in the study benefited from targeted sleep therapies, indicating a need for more research on treatments for sleep disorders in patients with DM1.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

West SD, Lochmüller H, Hughes J, et al. Sleepiness and sleep-related breathing disorders in myotonic dystrophy and response to treatment: a prospective cohort study. Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases 3 (4): 529-537.