AASM Membership Sections Newsletter Issue #2
12
American Academy
of Sleep Medicine
Narcolepsy Section
2012–2013
CHAIR
Louis A. Tartaglia, MD
VICE-CHAIR
Stephen LoVerme, MD
MEMBER
Eve R. Rogers, MD
Sam Dzodzomenyo, MD
Accomplishments
of the Section
The narcolepsy section committee
will once again focus on selecting a
section investigator award win-
ner and the narcolepsy “article of
the year” winner. Each winter we
review various sleep journals for
articles pertinent to the diagnosis
and treatment of narcolepsy.
We meet on a regular basis
and organize the section meeting
around the research and articles
that have been published over the
past twelve months.
The 2012 Narcolepsy Section
Investigator award was given to
Samuel Dzodzomenyo, MD for
his study, “Urine toxicology screen
in MSLT: The correlation of posi-
tive tetrahydrocannabinol, drug
negative patients and narcolepsy.”
Dr. Dzodzomenyo presented his
retrospective study conducted at
the Nationwide Children’s Hospi-
tal from 2004 to 2011. He sought
to identify the influence of drugs
and medications on the Multiple
Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). Urine
drug screens were performed
for MSLT in 321 patients aged
13-39
years. Urine was collected
the morning following a poly-
somnogram and followed by an
Dr. Samuel Dzodzomenyo accepts the Section Investigator Award from
Dr. Tartaglia, Chair of the Narcolepsy Membership Section.
MSLT. Three groups of patients: 1)
negative urine screens, 2) positive
urine screens for drugs other than
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and
3)
positive urine screens for THC.
Comparisons between groups
for gender, ethnicity, MSLT,
sleep diagnosis and total sleep
time were made.
Thirty-nine patients tested
drug positive: 26 with drugs other
than THC and 13 were positive
for THC. 85% in the positive THC
group were THC alone; 15% were
positive for THC and amphet-
amine/methamphetamine.
Based on MSLT criteria, 69% of
positive THC patients had MSLTs
consistent with narcolepsy, 8%
consistent with idiopathic hyper-
somnia, 8% other, and 15% nor-
mal. This was statistically different
from those with negative screens
(27%
narcolepsy, 22% idiopathic
hypersomnia, 2% other, 49% nor-
mal), and those positive for drugs
other than THC (23% narcolepsy,
31%
idiopathic hypersomnia, 46%
normal, p=0.0195). There was no
difference in total sleep time, gen-
der or ethnicity among the groups.
Ten percent of patients with PN
were positive for THC. There was
a significantly increased number of
patients meeting MSLT criteria for
narcolepsy in patients whose urine
tests were positive for THC.
A lively discussion ensued.
There were questions about the
need for drug screens on patients
undergoing MSLT’s.
The article of the year was “Nar-
colepsy with cataplexy associated
with nocturnal compulsive behav-
iors: a case-control study.” Dr. G.
Plazzi presented the study. A group
of sleep specialists from Italy were
present. We had a spirited discus-
sion of the research. Audience
participation was very active.
We welcome suggestions to our
section for articles and research for
this year’s awards and look forward
to fun session in Baltimore.