[Narcolepsy: a new perspective on diagnosis and treatment]
R Fronczek1, W L M van der Zande, J G van Dijk
1Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, afd. Neurologie en Klinische Neurofysiologie, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC Leiden.
Abstract:
The 5 classic symptoms of narcolepsy are excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations and disturbed nocturnal sleep. The presence of cataplexy is strongly associated with a deficiency of the neuropeptide hypocretin. This discovery has led to new diagnostic subclassifications: narcolepsy without cataplexy, which can be demonstrated by a multiple sleep latency test, and narcolepsy with cataplexy, which can be confirmed with a multiple sleep latency test or a cerebrospinal fluid deficiency of hypocretin I. Various treatment options are available, including psychostimulants and gamma hydroxybuterate.
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