Biomedical subjects

O Lapierre

Publications and source records attributed to O Lapierre.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Polysomnographic features of REM sleep behavior disorder: development of a scoring method.

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is characterized by the intermittent absence of REM sleep EMG atonia and the appearance of elaborate motor activity associated with dream mentation. There are no specific diagnostic criteria for RBD based upon polysomnographic findings. We describe a new scoring method and show its sensitivity to treatment with clonazepam. An increased phasic submental EMG density occurs in RBD patients, but REM density is similar to that of controls. Clonazepam selectively decreases REM sleep phasic activity but exerts no effect on REM sleep atonia. Periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) occur equally in both REM and NREM sleep in RBD patients, suggesting that normal suppression of PLMS in REM sleep is due to motor inhibition.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

The treatment of the restless leg syndrome with or without periodic leg movements in sleep.

There are presently three main treatments for restless leg syndrome-periodic leg movements in sleep (RLS-PLMS). The benzodiazepines (especially clonazepam) are considered by most clinicians to be the treatment of choice in mild cases, especially in young subjects. In our experience, however, L-dopa and bromocriptine are more effective treatments, although no controlled studies have ever been conducted to compare their therapeutic benefits and the side effects of benzodiazepines and dopaminergic drugs. The use of opioids should be restricted to patients who have severe symptoms and who fail to respond to benzodiazepines or L-dopa. Propoxyphene was found less effective than L-dopa in decreasing PLMS, but some patients resistant to L-dopa may exhibit a masked therapeutic response to opioids. However, there is currently no method to predict the response to any treatment modality.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Parasomnia].

The parasomnias comprises a group of disorders that intrude into the sleep process and are not primarily disorders of sleep and wake states per se. These disorders are manifestations of central nervous system activation usually transmitted through skeletal muscle or autonomic nervous system channels (ICSD 1990). The parasomnias are divided into four groups: Arousal disorders (sleepwalking, night terrors, and confusionnal arousal), sleep-wake transition disorders (rhythmic movement disorder, sleep starts), REM sleep parasomnias (nightmares, sleep paralysis, hallucinations, and REM sleep behavior disorders), and other parasomnias (sleeptalking, nocturnal enuresis, and nocturnal bruxism.

Adult↗