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The Multiple Sleep Latency Measurement Test (MSLT) helps you gauge how quickly you fall asleep during the day. The Multiple Measurement of Sleep Latency Test is performed on people who feel excessively sleepy during the day or are prone to napping despite having sleep at night. What is the Multiple Sleep Latency Test? How to interpret the results of the MSLT test?

The Multiple Sleep Latency Test(multiple sleep latency test -MSLT ) is a test that measures how quickly the patient falls asleep during the day. The MSLT test is the only objective test that measures the severity of sleepiness. Other tests that can be performed on people with excessive sleepiness are the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS), or the Carolingian Sleepiness Scale, but these are subjective tests.

Multiple Sleep Latency Measurement Test (MSLT) - readings

The Multiple Measurement of Sleep Latency Test is performed in the case of suspicion of narcolepsy, i.e. a disease involving a sudden short fall asleep, regardless of the situation in which the patient is. The MSLT test is also recommended for sleep disorders that involve excessive sleep time and / or excessive daytime sleepiness ( hypersomnia ) despite sleeping through the night.

Multiple Sleep Latency Measurement Test (MSLT) - preparation

The Multiple Sleep Latency Measurement Test is reliable when you have documented at least 6 hours of sleep the night before using a polysomnography (PSG) test .¹ Therefore, your doctor should order a PSG test before taking the MSLT test.

In addition, you should stop taking sleep-modifying medications at least 2 weeks before the MSLT test.

Multiple Sleep Latency Measurement Test (MSLT) - what is it?

The examination takes place during the day in a hospital or other specialized facility. Electrodes will be attached to the head and face, which are connected to the computer. Thanks to them, it is possible to determine whether the patient is asleep and in what phase of sleep he is in. There is a camera in the room that records the entire examination.

The sleep of narcolepsy patients compared to he althy patients differs significantly in shorter sleep latency, i.e. the time from going to sleep tofalling asleep.

The research lasts almost all day. The patient is en titled to 5 naps every two hours, lasting 15-20 minutes. During each nap, the time from going to sleep, that is, the latency of sleep, and the time from falling asleep to the onset of REM sleep, are measured.

If the patient falls asleep, he wakes up after about 20 minutes. If he fails to sleep, he waits two hours for another nap.

Multiple Sleep Latency Measurement Test (MSLT) - results

The mean MSLT sleep latency of more than 10 minutes is correct. Narcolepsy and excessive sleepiness are evidenced by an average latency of less than 8 minutes ( although some sources report 5 minutes). However, latency in MSLT of less than 8 minutes may occur in 30% of he althy people, therefore the evaluation of the results depends on the clinical context .¹

Narcolepsy is evidenced not only by sleep latency of less than 8 minutes, but also the emergence of at least two REM sleep during MSLT within 15 minutes of falling asleep, or SOREMP (Sleep Onset REM Period). However, SOREMP can also occur in sleep apnea, endogenous depression, after discontinuation of REM sleep suppressants, and even in he althy people due to the significant fragmentation of sleep .¹

Source:

1. Szelenberger W., Hypersomnia of central origin, "Pneumonologia i Alergologia Polska" 2007, vol. 75, supl. 1.

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