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Neuropediatrics 2002; 33(1): 51-52
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-23601
Short Communication

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Undetectable Levels of CSF Hypocretin-1 (Orexin-A) in Two Prepubertal Boys with Narcolepsy

H. Tsukamoto1 , T. Ishikawa1 , Y. Fujii2 , M. Fukumizu2 , K. Sugai2 , T. Kanbayashi3
  • 1 Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya City University Medical School, Nagoya, Japan
  • 2 Department of Pediatric Neurology, National Center Hospital for Mental, Nervous and Muscular Disorders, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
  • 3 Department of Neuropsychiatry, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Japan
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Publication History

Publication Date:
03 April 2002 (online)

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Abstract

We report on two prepubertal narcoleptic boys with undetectable levels of hypocretin-1 (orexin-A) in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The disease onset times were 6 and 8 years, and CSF was collected 8 and 20 months after the onset, respectively. The initial symptoms were excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy and disrupted nocturnal sleep. Both subjects are DRB1*1501 and DQB1*0602 positive. The measurement of CSF hypocretin-1 is valuable for the decisive diagnosis of narcolepsy and for selecting the type of treatment in prepubertal children. Our results suggest that a significant degree of hypocretin deficiency is already present at the disease onset.

Key words

Narcolepsy - Cataplexy - Hypocretin (Orexin) - Human leukocyte antigen - Child - Sleep disorder

References

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M.D. Haruko Tsukamoto

Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya City University Medical School

Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku

Nagoya 467 - 8601

Japan

Email: Harukot@aol.com