A new article published in Muscle & Nerve described myotonic dystrophies (DM) as the most common muscular dystrophies, which cause significant sleep disturbances.

Here, the authors analyzed the literature on sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in DM over the past 30 years. The study reviewed data regarding major sleep disorders in DM patients – sleep disordered breathing (SDB) with both, central and obstructive sleep apneas (CSA, OSA); EDS, sleep related movement disorders; and poor sleep quality.

The findings disclosed a complex set of sleep related problems – including primary abnormality of sleep control in myotonic dystrophies.

It was concluded that in individual patients, the roles of poor sleep hygiene, SDB, primary hypersomnia and excess fatigue have to be carefully assessed for appropriate management.

Source: Muscle & Nerve. 2020 Mar 25. doi: 10.1002/mus.26866.