Cerebrospinal fluid hypocretin levels are normal in idiopathic REM sleep behaviour disorder.
BACKGROUND
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) is a common sleep disorder that can be associated with a number of neurodegenerative conditions as well as with narcolepsy. Current diagnostic criteria require overnight polysomnography, and there are no other biomarkers available. The control of REM sleep is complex with a putative on/off switch within the brainstem activated, amongst other things, by hypocretinergic pathways from the lateral hypothalamus.


METHODS
Cerebrospinal fluid hypocretin levels were measured in five patients with idiopathic RBD.


RESULTS
Hypocretin levels were between 254 and 450 pg/ml and therefore within the normal range of >100 pg/ml.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypocretin levels in patients with idiopathic RBD are normal.
Anderson
K N
KN
Regional Neurosciences Centre, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE, UK. kirstie.anderson@nuth.nhs.uk
Vincent
A
A
Smith
I E
IE
Shneerson
J M
JM
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D000068797:Orexins; D020187:REM Sleep Behavior Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000068797:Orexins