Rubboli G, d'Orsi G, Zaniboni A, Gardella E, Zamagni M, Rizzi R, Meletti S, Valzania F, Tropeani A, Tassinari CA. A video-polygraphic analysis of the cataplectic attack.
Clin Neurophysiol 2000;
111 Suppl 2:S120-8. [PMID:
10996565 DOI:
10.1016/s1388-2457(00)00412-0]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES AND METHODS
To perform a video-polygraphic analysis of 11 cataplectic attacks in a 39-year-old narcoleptic patient, correlating clinical manifestations with polygraphic findings. Polygraphic recordings monitored EEG, EMG activity from several cranial, trunk, upper and lower limbs muscles, eye movements, EKG, thoracic respiration.
RESULTS
Eleven attacks were recorded, all of them lasting less than 1 min and ending with the fall of the patient to the ground. We identified, based on the video-polygraphic analysis of the episodes, 3 phases: initial phase, characterized essentially by arrest of eye movements and phasic, massive, inhibitory muscular events; falling phase, characterized by a rhythmic pattern of suppressions and enhancements of muscular activity, leading to the fall; atonic phase, characterized by complete muscle atonia. Six episodes out of 11 were associated with bradycardia, that was maximal during the atonic phase.
CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of the muscular phenomena that characterize cataplectic attacks in a standing patient suggests that the cataplectic fall occurs with a pattern that might result from the interaction between neuronal networks mediating muscular atonia of REM sleep and neural structures subserving postural control.
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