Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the data from clinical history with the results of nocturnal polysomnography in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Methods: A total of 15 patients (7 females, 8 males, age 56.5 ± 8.5 years, mean ± SD, average lenght of treatment 4.3 ± 2.8 ys) were examined with medical history focused on sleep disturbances and with nocturnal polysomnography. Hoehn-Yahr rating was 2.3 ± 0.4 (range 1.5–3). Eleven patients were on L-DOPA monotherapy, 4 patients on L-DOPA + dopamine agonist therapy. Results: Focused clinical history showed that 12 out of 15 patients suffer with at least one of the sleep disturbances followed. Subjectively, prolonged falling asleep was the most bothersome (7 patients). In 4 patients, sleep was subjectively disturbed by apnoeic pauses and 8 patients gave at least one of the possible signs of REM behaviour disorder. Polysomnography did not show evidence of more difficult falling asleep. In all patients, polysomnography detected low quality of sleep architecture with frequent waking reactions or awakenings, with reduction of deep synchronous sleep and reduction of REM sleep and with proportionately significant occurrence of wakefulness. Sleep apnoea syndrome was found in 6 patients, periodic limb movements in sleep in 4 patients and REM behaviour disorder in 4 patients. Based on clinical history, sleep apnoea syndrome was suspected in 67 % and periodic limb movements in sleep in 50 %. Suspicion of REM behaviour disorder was made in 8 patients but insufficient atony was found in 4 patients.Conclusion:Focused clinical history can detect with considerable sensitivity selected sleep disturbances in Parkinson’s disease patients.

        Key words: Parkinson’s disease, sleep disturbances, sleep apnoea syndrome, periodic leg movements in sleep, REM behaviour disorder