Associations Between Neurometabolite Levels and Sleep Quality in Survivors of Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL)

Motivation: Survivors of pediatric Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) have excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue, with substantial consequences to quality of life. Thoracic radiation therapy (TRT), traditionally used to treat HL, is associated with cardiopulmonary morbidity and may result in sleep apnea. Goal(s): Although sleep is known to impact neurometabolites in the general population, its effect on neurometabolite concentrations in HL survivors has not been established. Approach: The present study used magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to explore the relationship between neurometabolites and sleep quality in pediatric HL survivors and community controls. Results: We found associations between metabolites associated with excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation with sleep and age. Impact: Our findings may identify therapeutic targets for interventions that mitigate the treatment-related late effects commonly experienced by HL survivors. Our results suggest that excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation could mediate the impact of sleep disturbances on age-associated late effects of cancer treatment.