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Nocturnal pulse oximetry has a high positive predictive value for polysomnographically diagnosed obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in children. When significant adenotonsillar hypertrophy is diagnosed, adenotonsillectomy (T&A) represents a common treatment for OSA in children. We investigated the role of pulse oximetry in predicting those patients, referred for suspected OSA, who subsequently needed T&A. At-home nocturnal pulse oximetry was performed on 380 children (65.7% males), median age 4.1(IRQ 3.0-5.6) years, referred for suspected OSA, and data were retrospectively analysed. For each recording McGill Oximetry Score (MOS) was categorized. Mean pulse rate (PR) z-score and pulse rate variability (PRV)-corrected (PRSD/meanPR) were significantly higher in children with abnormal MOS. Both parameters were significantly higher in subjects who underwent T&A compared with those not surgically treated. Both DI 4 and PRV corrected showed a negative correlation with the elapsed time between pulse oximetry recordings and T&A. The logistic regression model showed a strong effect of an abnormal MOS as a predicting factor for T&A (adjusted odds ratio 19.7)., Conclusions: In our study, children with OSA who subsequently needed T&A showed higher PRV compared to those without surgical indication. Children with abnormal MOS were nearly 20 times more likely to undergo T&A. What is Known: • Nocturnal pulse oximetry has a high positive predictive value for polysomnographically diagnosed obstructive sleep apnoea in children. • When significant adenotonsillar hypertrophy is diagnosed, adenotonsillectomy represents a common treatment for OSA in children. What is New: • An abnormal pulse oximetry highly predict the indication for adenotonsillectomy. • We suggest the use of at-home pulse oximetry as method to predict prescription of adenotonsillectomy, and this may be useful in contexts where polysomnography is not readily available.

Rationale: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are frequently encountered in obese children. Whether OSAS and intermittent hypoxia are associated with liver injury in pediatric NAFLD is unknown., Objectives: To assess the relationship of OSAS with liver injury in pediatric NAFLD., Methods: Sixty-five consecutive children with biopsy-proven NAFLD (age, mean ± SD, 11.7 ± 2.1 yr; 58% boys; body mass index z score, 1.93 ± 0.61) underwent a clinical-biochemical assessment and a standard polysomnography. Insulin sensitivity, circulating proinflammatory cytokines, markers of hepatocyte apoptosis (cytokeratin-18 fragments), and hepatic fibrogenesis (hyaluronic acid) were measured. Liver inflammatory infiltrate was characterized by immunohistochemistry for CD45, CD3, and CD163, surface markers of leukocytes, T cells, and activated macrophage/Kupffer cells, respectively. OSAS was defined by an apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) greater than or equal to 1 event/h, and severe OSAS was defined by an AHI greater than or equal to 5 events/h., Measurements and Main Results: Fifty-five percent of children with NAFLD had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and 34% had significant (stage F ≥ 2) fibrosis. OSAS affected 60% of children with NAFLD; the presence and severity of OSAS were associated with the presence of NASH (odds ratio, 4.89; 95% confidence interval, 3.08-5.98; P = 0.0001), significant fibrosis (odds ratio, 5.91; 95% confidence interval, 3.23-7.42; P = 0.0001), and NAFLD activity score (β, 0.347; P = 0.029), independently of body mass index, abdominal adiposity, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance. This relationship held also in nonobese children with NAFLD. The duration of hemoglobin desaturation (Sa(O2) < 90%) correlated with increased intrahepatic leukocytes and activated macrophages/Kupffer cells and with circulating markers of hepatocyte apoptosis and fibrogenesis., Conclusions: In pediatric NAFLD, OSAS is associated with biochemical, immunohistochemical, and histological features of NASH and fibrosis. The impact of hypoxemia correction on liver disease severity warrants evaluation in future trials.

Rationale: At-home nocturnal pulse oximetry has a high positive predictive value (PPV) for polysomnographically-diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but no studies have been published testing the night-to-night consistency of at-home nocturnal pulse oximetry for the evaluation of suspected OSA in children. We therefore determined the night-to-night consistency of nocturnal pulse oximetry as a diagnostic test for OSA in children., Methods: We prospectively studied 148 children (96 male) aged 4.9 ± 2.4 (1.2-11.8) years, referred for suspected OSA. To evaluate night-to-night consistency, we compared an oximetry analysis method, the McGill Oximetry Score (MOS), from two consecutive at-home nocturnal pulse oximetry recordings., Results: Pulse oximetry metrics were similar on the two nights. The MOS on the two nights showed excellent night-to-night consistency when analyzed as positive for OSA versus inconclusive, 143/148 (Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.90). A more detailed analysis using four categories (MOS 1, 2, 3, and 4) of OSA severity showed very good night-to-night agreement, 133/148 (Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.91). Variability was increased in children younger than 4 years of age compared to older children., Conclusions: Night-to-night consistency of nocturnal pulse oximetry as a diagnostic test for OSA showed excellent agreement. Night-to-night consistency of pulse oximetry, as analyzed by the MOS, for diagnosis and severity evaluation further validates this abbreviated testing method for pediatric OSA. Polysomnography (PSG) is required to rule in or rule out OSA in children if a single night oximetry testing is inconclusive., (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Purpose of Review: Although several studies in the last years have evaluated obesity, obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS), and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), their pathophysiologies and interactions and the role of treatment with growth hormone are not completely understood. The present review analyzes the contributing role of obesity, OSAS, and sleep structure abnormalities in determining the EDS and the role of specific treatment in improving the clinical outcome., Recent Findings: The studies on sleep structure of PWS patients show abnormalities of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and a decrease in non-REM sleep instability, corroborating the hypothesis of the presence of a primary disorder of vigilance and the similarities with narcolepsy. These sleep alterations might also be linked to the action of mediators of inflammation (i.e. adiponectin or cytokines) determined by obesity. Obesity and hypothalamic dysfunction could be responsible for the primary abnormalities of ventilation during sleep that, in turn, might contribute to EDS. Although EDS seems to resemble narcolepsy, PWS patients do not present the other typical symptoms of narcolepsy., Summary: The most consistent hypothesis for linking the three different symptoms of PWS is a primary central hypothalamic dysfunction. Further research is needed to evaluate the contribution of the upper airway resistance syndrome in the pathogenesis of EDS, the role of the alterations of sleep microstructure, the relationships between PWS and narcoleptic phenotype, the involvement of orexin/hypocretin, and the effects of drugs acting on REM sleep and/or wakefulness.

Although obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children is a frequent and potentially serious respiratory disorder, it has a reliable diagnosis and treatment is highly effective. OSAS is a respiratory sleep-related disorder that forms part of sleep apnea-hypoapnea syndrome. The syndrome affects between 1 % and 3 % of children. In addition to its cardiopulmonary complications, it can retard growth and increase the risk of hyperactivity and learning difficulties. It has also been associated with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity. When OSAS is suspected, up-to-date nocturnal polysomnography is the gold standard for the diagnosis and quantification of severity of childhood OSAS. In most children the treatment of choice is adenotonsillectomy, which has a success rate of more than 85 %. We provide an up-to-date review of the evidence on the clinical features, etiology, complications and treatment of OSAS in children. The main objective of this review is to alert pediatricians to their essential role in the early detection of this syndrome, especially among children who snore, and to provide a clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and definitive treatment of these children.