Does central sleep apnea occur in children with syndromic craniosynostosis?

AIM: To evaluate the prevalence and cause of central sleep apnea (CSA) and central sleep apnea syndrome (CAS) in patients with syndromic craniosynostosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This 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.

RESULTS: One-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).

CONCLUSION: There is no CSA syndrome in children with syndromic craniosynostosis despite white matter abnormalities, OSAS and hindbrain herniation.