title: [Narcolepsy--new implications of molecular biology].
abstract: Narcolepsy is a common but underdiagnosed sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and abnormal manifestations of REM sleep: cataplexy, sleep paralysis and hypnagogogic hallucinations. Sleep onset REM periods (SOREMPs) are diagnostic. Within the last five years the pathogenesis has become clearer: narcolepsy is associated with almost total absence of the neuropeptides hypocretin-1 and -2 in the hypothalamus and CSF. A low level of CSF hypocretin is now recognized as a new diagnostic tool. This review provides updated knowledge of narcolepsy.
authors.affiliation: Amtssygehuset i Glostrup, Dansk Center for Søvnmedicin, Klinisk Neurofysiologisk Afdeling, Glostrup. stkn@glostruphosp.kbhamt.dk
authors.forename: Stine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.forename: Poul Jørgen
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Jennum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008297:Male; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D000068797:Orexins; D017286:Polysomnography; D012307:Risk Factors; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000596229:HCRT protein, human; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000068797:Orexins