Free AccessSleep LatencySleep Deprivation Can Affect the MSLT for Days Vincent J. Gimino, D, ABSM, FACCP Vincent J. Gimino, D, ABSM, FACCP Address correspondence to: Vincent J. Gimino, The Corvallis Clinic, 3680 NW Samaritan Drive, Corvallis, OR 97333(541) 754-1272(541) 754-1257 The Corvallis Clinic, Corvallis, OR Search for more papers by this author Published Online:December 15, 2011https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.1488Cited by:1SectionsPDF ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations AboutINTRODUCTIONI read with great pleasure the Sleep Medicine Pearl entitled “Dangerous Driver” by Dr. Turpen et al., published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine August 15, 2011.1 This article demonstrates the all too common problem of chronic sleep deprivation in our adolescent population. The consequences in this setting not only include sleepy driving but also include the well-described cognitive, metabolic, and academic consequences. In addition, athletic performance likely suffers as a result of sleep deprivation.2This article also highlights some of the limitations of our current testing procedures to evaluate excessive daytime sleepiness, namely, the multiple sleep latency test. The authors reinforce the AASM Practice Parameters3 recommendation of a minimum of 6 hours recorded sleep on the preceding night's polysomnogram; the relationship of circadian rhythm disorders such as delayed sleep phase syndrome on the presence of sleep onset REM episodes on the multiple sleep latency test; and the effects of sleep deprivation on the recorded mean sleep latency.An example of how sleep deprivation can affect the multiple sleep latency test not just initially, but for several days thereafter, has been described in a case report by Janjua et al.4 at the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center. In their report, the patient had been diagnosed with narcolepsy (at an outside center) under similar circumstances to the patient described by Dr. Turpen. Actigraphy performed on this patient clearly showed an erratic sleep pattern with insufficient sleep. Due to persistent concerns, the PSG and MSLT were repeated. However the investigators elected to perform 4 consecutive nights' PSG and MSLT. Eventually the patient discharged her sleep debt in the Sleep Center by being allowed to sleep in an unrestricted fashion. As a result the patient's MSLT normalized in a graded fashion. The authors, like Dr. Turpen, emphasized the value of sleep diaries prior to performing the PSG and MSLT. The authors also contend that the protocol of forced awakenings the morning after the PSG not only can contribute to the potential for the erroneous presence of SOREMs on the MSLT (as indicated by Dr. Turpen), but also may contribute to a falsely shortened sleep latency.The two case studies show that interpretation of MSLT results can be affected not only by the patient's sleep patterns on a chronic basis, but also how we administer the test itself. We can improve on the first problem through education of our patients; improving on the second involves continued education of sleep practitioners, and potentially changes in our testing policies and procedures.DISCLOSURE STATEMENTThis was not an industry supported study. The author has indicated no financial conflicts of interest.CITATIONGimino VJ. Sleep deprivation can affect the MSLT for days. J Clin Sleep Med 2011;7(6):683.REFERENCES1 Turpen KBWagner MHDangerous driverJ Clin Sleep Med2011740810, 21897780LinkGoogle Scholar2 Mah CDMah KEKezirian EJDement WCThe effects of sleep extension on the athletic performance of collegiate basketball playersSleep20113494350, 21731144CrossrefGoogle Scholar3 Littner MRKushida CWise M, et al.Standards of Practice Committee of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Practice parameters for the clinical use of the multiple sleep latency test and the maintenance of wakefulness testSleep200528145, 15700714CrossrefGoogle Scholar4 Janjua TSamp TCramer-Bornemann MHannon HMahowald MClinical caveat: prior sleep deprivation can affect the MSLT for daysSleep Med200346972, 14592363CrossrefGoogle Scholar Previous article Next article FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited by Non-random temporal distribution of sleep onset REM periods in the MSLT in narcolepsySansa G, Falup-Pecurariu C, Salamero M, Iranzo A and Santamaria J Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 10.1016/j.jns.2014.03.039, Vol. 341, No. 1-2, (136-138), Online publication date: 1-Jun-2014. Volume 07 • Issue 06 • December 15, 2011ISSN (print): 1550-9389ISSN (online): 1550-9397Frequency: Monthly Metrics History Submitted for publicationSeptember 1, 2011Submitted in final revised formSeptember 1, 2011Accepted for publicationSeptember 1, 2011Published onlineDecember 15, 2011 Information© 2011 American Academy of Sleep MedicinePDF download