Narcolepsy

Authors

  • Fernando Morgadinho Santos Coelho Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein; Setor de Urgências
  • Rosilene Motta Elias Universidade de São Paulo; Hospital da Clínicas; Serviço de Hemodiálise
  • Márcia Pradella-Hallinan Instituto do Sono
  • Lia Rita Azeredo Bittencourt Unifesp; EPM; Departamento de Psicobiologia
  • Sérgio Tufik Universidade Federal de São Paulo; Escola Paulista de Medicina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832007000300005

Keywords:

Narcolepsy, genetics, immunology, diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological syndrome with prevalence between 0.018% and 0.040% without important ethnic differences. Narcolepsy is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy. The pathophysiology of the illness is not known; even so it possesses genetic marker (allele HLA DQB1 *0602) and with abnormalities in the neurotransmission of hypocretin has been described in patients with narcolepsy. OBJECTIVES: Resume news discoveries in narcolepsy and show diagnoses and treatment options. METHODS: Bibliographic review. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The diagnoses of narcolepsy must be done with The International Classification of Sleep Disorders criteria. The hypocretin dosage is the best exam to confirm diagnose in narcoleptic patients with typical cataplexy. The treatment is carried through with behavior actions and symptomatic drugs that promote the vigil and control the cataplexy. Differential diagnoses as schizophrenia, epilepsy, depression and others sleep disorders need to be eliminated.

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Published

2007-01-01

Issue

Vol. 34 No. 3 (2007)

Section

Reviews of Literature

License

Once accepted for publication, the manuscript becomes permanent property of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry. This copyright transfer subsumes exclusive and unlimited entitlement of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry to publish and distribute the full contents of articles in whichever publishing medium, including press and electronic media, in Brazil and abroad.

Manuscripts are accepted with the understanding that the Editor and the editorial staff have the right to make revisions aimed at greater conciseness, clarity, and conformity with Journal style, of course without changing its content.

How to Cite

Narcolepsy . (2007). Archives of Clinical Psychiatry, 34(3), 133-138. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832007000300005