[Transcutaneous oxygen tension and apnea during sleep stages in normal infants and infants at risk for sudden infant death syndrome].

The relationship between chronic hypoxemia and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has been reported by several authors. In order to study the influence of the apnea-time during a sleep state on transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO2), we have studied polygraphically 30 full-term infants (10 controls, 10 SIDS siblings and 10 near-miss for SIDS), aged from 5 to 13 weeks. No significant difference was observed either for apnea-time or tcPO2 between infant-groups studied in different sleep states.

Effect of sleep position on transcutaneous oxygen tension in SIDS siblings.

To assess the influence of sleep position in sudden infant death syndrome siblings (SIDSS), we have studied 60 healthy SIDSS between the 1st and 3 + 4th month of life polygraphically. Infants were grouped according to postnatal age (1st, 2nd and 3 + 4th month) and sleep position (supine and prone). Transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO2) was continuously recorded and studied in each sleep state (active (AS) and quiet sleep (QS)) during the 1st and 2nd sleep cycle.

Respiratory pauses and periodic breathing assessed by cardio-pneumography in normal infants and in SIDS siblings.

450 cardio-pneumograms (CPG) were performed on two successive nights in 68 controls and 235 SIDS siblings. The number of respiratory pauses greater than or equal to 5 sec and greater than or equal to 10 sec (NP) and the time of periodic breathing (PB) were calculated per 100 minutes of recording. Recordings were arranged into five age groups corresponding to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th-6th month of life.

Are polygraphic and cardiopneumographic respiratory patterns useful tools for predicting the risk for sudden infant death syndrome? A 10-year study.

Between 1974 and 1984 we have studied 204 control infants (C) comparing them with 650 SIDS siblings (SS) and 146 near-miss for SIDS (NM). These 1,000 full-term infants were recorded by day polysomnography (DPSG; n = 417), night polysomnography (NPSG; n = 257) and cardiopneumography (CPG; n = 2,600). Records were visually analyzed.

Polysomnograms and cardiopneumograms in SIDS research.

Polysomnographic (PSG) and cardiopneumographic (CPG) recordings are commonly used in research on sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). PSG and simultaneous CPG recordings were compared in order to clarify two practical problems: reliability of sleep state evaluation with CPG and comparability of the number of respiratory pauses evaluated by these two recording techniques. This comparison shows that: (1) evaluation of sleep states by CPG technique is only reliable for quiet sleep and (2) there was a significant difference in the number of pauses, the evaluation with PSG being systematically higher than with CPG.

Respiratory frequency during sleep in siblings of sudden infant death syndrome victims. A comparison with control, normal infants.

The present study was carried out on 76 polygraphic recordings performed on 38 siblings of sudden infant death syndrome victims and on 38 control (2 days to 18 weeks old) infants. Each sibling corresponded to a control infant according to gender, gestational age at birth and postnatal age criteria. We found that in siblings as in controls, respiratory frequency (RF) was higher in active sleep (AS) compared to quiet sleep (QS) state (P less than 0.

Sleep apneas in normal neonates and infants during the first 3 months of life.

Sleep polygraphic recording was carried out on 52 normal full-term babies. 16 infants were recorded at 2 - 7 days of age, 14 at 2 to 5 weeks, 13 at 6 to 9 weeks and 9 at 10 - 13 weeks. Central apneas of 2 sec and over were analysed in Active Sleep (AS), Quiet Sleep (QS) and Transitional Sleep (TS).

Respiratory pauses in normal infants and in siblings of victims of the sudden infant death syndrome.

Sleep polygraphic recording was carried out on 57 normal infants and on 100 SIDS siblings during morning naps between birth and the 4th month of life. Total sleep time and duration of sleep stages were determined. Central apnoeas of 2 sec and longer duration were analysed in AS, QS and IS.

[Waking-sleeping transition in the newborn baby and in infants before the age of 3 months (author's transl)].

The mode of transition from waking to sleeping was studied using two methods: (1) by the simple observation of behavioural criteria (opening and closing of eyes, crying, motility), and in particular, rapid eye movements (REM); (2) from combined behavioural and polygraphic criteria (recorded REM, chin EMG, respiratory rhythm, EEG). This study shows that sleep may begin without complete eye closure, with half closed eyes or with brief, alternating opening and closing of the eyes. The modifications of the various polygraphic and behavioural parameters depend on the stage of sleep which is the outcome.

Sleep and brain malformation in the neonatal period.

Polygraphic recordings of 20 neonates with brain malformations and/or chromosomal anomalies were compared with those obtained in 29 normal fullterm neonates. Seep assessment was made with different methods described in the literature. These methods of sleep scoring gave similar results in the normal newborn babies but discrepant results in many pathological neonates.