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Obesity in children with narcolepsy: metabolic and endocrine comorbidities

Laura Arvis1, Emilie Doye1, Kevin Perge1

  • 1Pediatric endocrinology Unit, Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.

Sleep
|November 26, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Metabolic complications are not directly linked to narcolepsy in children, but rather to weight gain. Hypothyroidism and advanced puberty may indicate hypothalamic dysfunction in narcolepsy.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Narcolepsy with cataplexy is frequently observed alongside obesity in pediatric populations.
  • The relationship between narcolepsy and metabolic complications, independent of obesity, requires further investigation.
  • Endocrine comorbidities in obese children with narcolepsy have not been extensively compared to controls.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if metabolic complications are associated with narcolepsy in children, irrespective of obesity.
  • To compare endocrine comorbidities in obese children diagnosed with narcolepsy versus non-narcoleptic obese controls.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 22 children with narcolepsy and 22 matched obese controls.
  • Evaluations included clinical examinations, oral glucose tolerance tests, and abdominal ultrasounds.
  • Data on family history of obesity and pubertal development were collected.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in glucose, lipid, hepatic, respiratory, or cardiovascular parameters were observed between groups.
  • Insulin sensitivity did not differ between children with narcolepsy and controls.
  • Central hypothyroidism was exclusively found in the narcolepsy group, with lower thyroid-stimulating hormone and fT4 levels.

Conclusions:

  • Metabolic complications appear related to weight gain rather than being a specific risk of narcolepsy.
  • The findings suggest potential hypothalamic involvement in narcolepsy, indicated by hypothyroidism and advanced puberty.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the link between narcolepsy, hypothalamic function, and endocrine disorders.
Abstract

Keywords:
metabolic complicationsnarcolepsyobesitypediatric

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