Does central sleep apnea occur in children with syndromic craniosynostosis?

AimTo evaluate the prevalence and cause of central sleep apnea (CSA) and central sleep apnea syndrome (CAS) in patients with syndromic craniosynostosis.Materials and methodsThis prospective study included ambulant sleep study data to assess, central apneas and obstructive apneas. Data on hindbrain herniation were obtained using cerebral magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsOne-hundred and thirty-eight syndromic craniosynostosis patients with a median (range) age of 7.8 (1.0–18.0) were included. Central apneas decreased significantly with increasing age (R = −0.25, p = 0.003). An increased central apnea index according to the AASM was present in 5 of 138 patients (3.6%; median central apnea index 2.38 (1.12–3.04)). The prevalence of OSAS was 34%, but the median central apnea index in OSAS patients was not pathologically increased. Patients with hindbrain herniation did not have more central apneas compared to patients without hindbrain herniation (F = 1.38, p = 0.24).ConclusionThere is no CSA syndrome in children with syndromic craniosynostosis despite white matter abnormalities, OSAS and hindbrain herniation.

► Central apneas decrease physiologically in syndromic craniosynostosis.
► In syndromic craniosynostosis obstructive sleep apnea is not associated with increased central sleep apnea.
► In syndromic craniosynostosis hindbrain herniation is not associated with increased central sleep apnea.