Apnée du sommeil et paralysie cérébrale à l'âge adulte. À propos de trois observations

Respiratory disorders are frequent in cerebral palsy with restrictive and also obstructive disorders. Obstructive sleep apnea has been described in childhood but there are few data about this problem in adults. Usually clinical symptoms are snoring, apneas, nycturia, sleepiness, awakenings, headache, cognitive disorders, and depressive syndrome. Obesity is a strong risk factor. Moreover, prevalence increases with age in adults. We report three cases of adults with cerebral palsy suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. Particularities of this syndrome are discussed in cerebral palsy. Diagnosis may be difficult because of the existing impairment, which can mask specific clinical signs. According to the risk of impairment worsening and of cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea must be evoked in case of any doubt. Individuals who are suspected of having obstructive sleep apnea should undergo polysomnography to confirm the presence and severity of sleep disordered breathing.