ABNORMAL SPONTANEOUS MOVEMENTS IN INFANTS WITH REPEATED SLEEP APNEAS

Infants with repeated apnoea during sleep have received great attentio n for the assumed reason of being at-risk for sudden infant death. The present paper reports findings which indicate a different risk, namel y for neurological impairment during infancy due to repeated hypoxia. A very strong correlation exists between the respiratory measurements based on a polygraphic all-night recording (PtoO2 drops and apnoea inc idence and duration) and the impairment of the spontaneous movement re pertoire in 114 infants, aged between 3 and 26 weeks. All infants have been video recorded at the same day as the registration of the somnog ram. As there was a gradient of respiratory abnormalities from absent to severe, a similar gradient was present in the degree of motor devia tions in these infants. A variety of qualitative changes in the sponta neous movement patterns was found which was similar to those previousl y described in cases with documented brain damage. These abnormalities could not be attributed to pre- and perinatal complications. It is co ncluded that infants with repeated sleep apnoea need special attention for prevention of neurological impairment irrespective of the suppose d risk for sudden infant death.