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.

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