title: Narcolepsy: a review of evidence for autoimmune diathesis.
abstract: Sporadic narcolepsy with cataplexy is a disabling disease that is strongly associated with the major histocompatibility class II allele HLA DQB1*0602 and is characterized by profound reduction in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentration of hypocretin 1 levels. This article provides a comprehensive review of the evidence that neurologic autoimmunity is the pathogenic basis of narcolepsy with cataplexy. Despite this evidence, specific antibody markers for narcolepsy have been elusive. Clinical trials using intravenous immunoglobulin infusions in recent onset narcolepsy with cataplexy have led to improvement in cataplexy in some patients. Future research must focus on elucidation of immune markers and early ameliorative treatments for narcolepsy.
authors.affiliation: Psychogenomic Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905 , USA. black.john@mayo.edu
authors.forename: John Logan
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D020274:Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D002385:Cataplexy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D000068797:Orexins
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; C000596229:HCRT protein, human; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000068797:Orexins