BMJ  2004;329 (25 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7468.0-e

What's new in narcolepsy?

A structured sleep history and assessment in a sleep laboratory are helpful in finding the cause of excessive daytime sleepiness. Reviewing the clinical features and neurobiology of narcolepsy, Zeman and colleagues (p 724) say that levels of hypocretin-1 and hypocretin-2, the neurotransmitters regulating the sleep-wake cycle, are reduced in people with narcolepsy and cataplexy. In Europe around 3-5 people in 10 000 are affected, and moderately effectively treatments are available, with newer ones being investigated. Patients with suspected narcolepsy should be referred to a sleep disorder service and reviewed regularly.

Credit: GARO/PHANIE/REX

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Narcolepsy and excessive daytime sleepiness

Adam Zeman, Tom Britton, Neil Douglas, Andrew Hansen, Jane Hicks, Robin Howard, Andrew Meredith, Ian Smith, Gregory Stores, Sue Wilson, and Zenobia Zaiwalla
BMJ 2004 329: 724-728. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]