New AASM Guideline, Improved Awareness of Sleep Disorders: Lynn Marie Trotti, MD, MSc

“We want to get this out as broadly as possible to adult and pediatric neurologists because these disorders, in many places, are taken care of by neurologists, even if those neurologists are not specifically sleep specialists.”

A recently published guideline from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) outlined treatment for central disorders of hypersomnolence. Recommendations were “strong” or “conditional” depending on the level of evidence, with recommended medications for narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, Kleine-Levin syndrome, and hypersomnias secondary to medical disorders.^1,2 

Sitting down with NeurologyLive, Lynn Marie Trotti, MD, MSc, coauthor of the guideline and AASM director, discussed the potential impact of the guideline for sleep experts, as well as for neurologists who may be treating patients with these disorders. Trotti, who is a professor of neurology at Emory University School of Medicine, also commented on this area of sleep research, with new drugs in the pipeline and the recent FDA approval of JZP-258 (Xywav; Jazz Pharmaceuticals), for the treatment of idiopathic hypersomnia—the first medication to receive the designation. 

New protocol recommendations for the Multiple Sleep Latency Test and Maintenance of Wakefulness Test are also on the horizon from AASM for patients with central disorders of hypersomnolence, Trotti said. 

REFERENCES

1. Maski K, Trotti LM, Kotagal S, et al. Treatment of central disorders of hypersomnolence: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline. J Clin Sleep Med. Published online April 23, 2021. doi:10.5664/jcsm.9328
2. New guideline provides clinical recommendations for treating sleep disorders that cause excessive sleepiness. News release. American Academy of Sleep Medicine. August 3, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2021. https://aasm.org/new-guideline-provides-clinical-recommendations-treating-sleep-disorders-excessive-sleepiness/