Infancy narcolepsy: Streptococcus infection as a causal factor.
Streptococcal infections are suggested as a risk factor for narcolepsy. This hypothesis is supported by the presence of anti-streptolysin antibodies in 65% of patients with narcolepsy. These infections are associated with the activation of general immunity and concomitant increased permeability of blood-brain barrier after T cell activation during inflammation and fever. It has also been shown a significant association between birth order and narcolepsy in genetically susceptible patients, with positivity for HLA-DQB1⁎0602 allele. Watson and colleagues showed a significant association between birth order and narcolepsy in genetically susceptible patients, with positivity for HLA-DQB1⁎0602 allele. In that study, the disease was predominant in young children cases compared to controls. We report here the case of a child diagnosed with narcolepsy with cataplexy, positivity for the HLA-DQB1⁎0602 and previous history of streptococcal infection.
Ambulatory of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Department of Psychobiology, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil ; Master of Neurosciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Danielle Antunes
DA
Lopes
Ambulatory of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Department of Psychobiology, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil ; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Fernando Morgadinho Santos
FM
Coelho
Ambulatory of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Department of Psychobiology, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Marcia
M
Pradella-Hallinan
Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ; Master of Neurosciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Maria Helena
MH
de Araújo Melo
Ambulatory of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Department of Psychobiology, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Sergio
S
Tufik
Childhood; Narcolepsy; Streptococcal infections