Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Abnormalities in Children with Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS).

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Polysomnographic investigation of sleep architecture in children presenting with pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS).

METHODS: Fifteen consecutive subjects meeting criteria for PANS (mean age = 7.2 y; range 3-10 y) underwent single-night full polysomnography (PSG) read by a pediatric neurologist.

RESULTS: Thirteen of 15 subjects (87%) had abnormalities detected with PSG. Twelve of 15 had evidence of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep motor disinhibition, as characterized by excessive movement, laughing, hand stereotypies, moaning, or the continuation of periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) into REM sleep.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows various forms of REM sleep motor disinhibition present in a population of children with PANS.