Sleep structure and sleep disordered breathing in familial dysautonomia

Abstract

within 1-year prior to death. Similar information was available in 23 patients with FD that were alive. There were no significant differences in the apnea hypopnea index (p = 0.10), average heart rate (p = 0.30) or other ECG parameters. The average lowest oxygen saturation during sleep was not different either (p = 0.17), although in 7 deceased patients oxygen saturation fell below 60% while in none of the alive group fell as low. The arterial HCO3 levels were significantly higher in the deceased group (p = 0.005) although there were no differences in average pCO2 levels (p = 0.10). Conclusions: FD patients that died suddenly during sleep had a propensity toward more pronounced nocturnal oxygen desaturations and had significantly higher levels of plasma HCO3 suggesting compensatory metabolic alkalosis.