Sleep apnea in Machado-Joseph disease: a clinical and polysomnographic evaluation.

OBJECTIVE/

BACKGROUND

Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most common type of autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). Sleep disorders have been described as frequent non-motor symptoms in MJD, and with marked impairment on quality of life. However, few studies have evaluated the frequency and characteristics of sleep apnea in MJD.

PATIENTS/

METHODS

This study analyzed the prevalence of sleep apnea in 47 patients with MJD by using polysomnography. Clinical variables such as age, age at onset of symptoms, duration of symptoms (at time of evaluation), body index mass, ataxia scales severity and CAG repeat length were compared with polysomnographic findings.

RESULTS

Thirty four percent of MJD patients had OSAS, and 42.5% had excessive daytime somnolence. There were no differences considering ataxia severity, CAG repetition length or other clinical variable.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with MJD have high frequency of obstructive sleep apnea, and this sleep disorder is not correlated with ataxia severity, CAG repetition length or other clinical variable.