SummaryBackgroundExcessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is the main complaint in many neurological sleep disorders, such as idiopathic hypersomnia, narcolepsy, or obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAS). The validity of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) as a screening tool for EDS remains controversial. We therefore investigated (1) the interrelation of the ESS total score and the mean sleep latency (MSL) during the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) and (2) the diagnostic accuracy of the ESS total score to detect EDS in patients with the chief complaint of subjective EDS.MethodsA total of 94 patients (48 males) with subjective EDS were included in this study. Regression analyses and ROC curve analyses were carried out to assess the predictive value of the ESS score for MSL.ResultsThe ESS score significantly predicted a shortened MSL (p = 0.01, β = −0.29). After dichotomizing into two groups, the ESS score predicted MSL only in patients with hypersomnia or narcolepsy (p = 0.01, β = −0.33), but not in patients with other clinical diagnoses (e. g. OSAS; p = 0.36, β = −0.15). The ROC curve analyses indicated an optimal ESS cut-off value of 16 with a sensitivity of 70%; however, specificity remained unsatisfactory (55.6%).ConclusionsOur results suggest that the predictive value of the ESS score in patients with subjective EDS is low and patient subgroup-specific (superior in hypersomnia/narcolepsy vs. other diagnoses) and that the commonly used cut-off of 11 points may be insufficient for clinical practice.

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Scleromyxedema is an uncommon disease of unclear etiology. Therapy is difficult. Two patients with scleromyxedema were treated with extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP). The first patient has been treated unsuccessfully for 3 months with PUVA-bath-therapy and for one year with cyclophosphamide and prednisolone. Thus supplementary treatment with ECP was initiated, as the cyclophosphamide and prednisolone were gradually reduced. After 29 cycles of ECP, the skin lesions had almost disappeared and the associated myopathy also resolved. In the second patient initial monotherapy with ECP was started after PUVA-bath-therapy for 3 months did not show any effect. After temporary improvement with ECP every four weeks, the skin lesions relapsed, so oral cyclophosphamide was added. These two cases confirm the effect of ECP in scleromyxedema, but probably combination therapy is at least initially more successful.

Background Fatigue is a common symptom in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) that significantly impairs quality of life. Bright light therapy may be a cheap treatment option with little to no adverse events. Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of bright light therapy as a treatment option for MS-related fatigue. Methods This was randomized sham-controlled trial including 26 pwMS with a Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) Score ≥36. Participants were assigned to receive either bright white light therapy ( n = 13) or dim red light (sham-intervention; n = 13). Participants used the respective intervention for 30 min each morning for two weeks, followed by a two-week washout period. The primary endpoint was the difference in FSS scores following light treatment as calculated by analysis of covariance. Results There was no significant difference in FSS (F(1,23) = 2.39, p = .136, partial ⴄ2 = .094). However, FSS scores generally improved over the course of the study in a clinically relevant manner. Conclusion Bright light therapy decreased FSS scores over the course of this study. However, this effect was not significant in comparison to a sham intervention.

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