Journal of Sleep Disorders & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Catathrenia Presenting as Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

Andrea Lopes Machado*, Renato Oliveira, Susana Moreira, Carla Bentes, Paula Pinto and Cristina Bárbara

Catathrenia is a rare condition and corresponds to the identification of a deep inspiration followed by a prolonged and monotone groaning, usually occurring on rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Although it’s clinical relevance is still uncertain.

In this report, the authors describe a case of catathrenia presenting with excessive daytime sleepiness and nonrestoring sleep that was interfering with work performance as well as martial life. This condition was successfully treated with Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) despite the lack of diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) by correction of sleep fragmentation.

Treatment with PAP is well established when catathrenia is associated with OSA but is unclear if no other sleep disorder is present. In the last International Classification of Sleep Disorders, catathrenia has been classified as an isolated symptom, however in this patient, the magnitude of repercussion on her daily life might suggest the need for a recategorization. We hypothesize that the pathophysiologic mechanism is related to upper airway ventilatory instability due to a high arousal index and that secondary sleep fragmentation explains excessive daytime somnolence and fatigue that are reversed with PAP treatment.

Published Date: 2020-08-24; Received Date: 2020-06-25