Role of continuous positive airway pressure therapy on the pathogenesis of sleep-related frontal lobe epilepsy in a child with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

J Child Neurol. 2008 Jan;23(1):124-8. doi: 10.1177/0883073807308690. Epub 2007 Dec 13.

Abstract

We describe an obese child with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in whom nocturnal frontal lobe seizures developed within a week after therapy was started with continuous positive airway pressure. The video polysomnographic study after the onset of nocturnal episodes showed 3 seizures: 2 starting from slow-wave sleep when he was sleeping with continuous positive airway pressure, and 1 from stage 2 non-rapid eye movement sleep when he was sleeping without continuous positive airway pressure. Cyclic alternating pattern analysis during the video polysomnography recorded after the onset of nocturnal seizures disclosed a high cyclic alternating pattern rate during slow-wave sleep, and the recording obtained after antiepileptic therapy began showed a low cyclic pattern analysis rate. In this child, we describe the non-rapid eye movement sleep instability induced by continuous positive airway pressure therapy might have had a role in triggering the nocturnal seizures.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / adverse effects*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy / etiology*
  • Epilepsy / physiopathology*
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Obesity / complications
  • Periodicity
  • Polysomnography
  • Sleep / physiology
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / therapy*
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / complications
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / physiopathology
  • Sleep, REM / physiology