Night Sleep Organization in Patients with Severe Hepatic Failure

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Abstract
Subjects (20) with severe hepatic failure were studied by means of all night polygraphic sleep recordings. Base night recordings were made as well as registrations after treatment with drugs known to improve the clinical conditions of these patients, especially psychic performances. Base night recordings showed sleep disruption, with a large amount of wakefulness at the beginning of the registrations and during the night itself. Sleep stages were strongly reduced, especially rapid eye movement [REM] sleep. After L-dopa [central depressant] treatment, these negative patterns were enhanced and the percentage incidence of the REM stage was very low. This behavior occurred with a light improvement in psychological performance. Therapy with lactulose seemed to improve the neuropsychiatric state and sleep organization. Wakefulness was lower in the night records after lactulose treatment. The percentage incidence of sleep stages was more normal and REM sleep clearly increased.
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