TY - JOUR
T1 - Autonomic disturbances in narcolepsy
AU - Plazzi, Giuseppe
AU - Moghadam, Keivan Kaveh
AU - Maggi, Leonardo Serra
AU - Donadio, Vincenzo
AU - Vetrugno, Roberto
AU - Liguori, Rocco
AU - Zoccoli, Giovanna
AU - Poli, Francesca
AU - Pizza, Fabio
AU - Pagotto, Uberto
AU - Ferri, Raffaele
PY - 2011/6
Y1 - 2011/6
N2 - Narcolepsy is a clinical condition characterized mainly by excessive sleepiness and cataplexy. Hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis complete the narcoleptic tetrad; disrupted night sleep, automatic behaviors and weight gain are also usual complaints.Different studies focus on autonomic changes or dysfunctions among narcoleptic patients, such as pupillary abnormalities, fainting spells, erectile dysfunction, night sweats, gastric problems, low body temperature, systemic hypotension, dry mouth, heart palpitations, headache and extremities dysthermia. Even if many studies lack sufficient standardization or their results have not been replicated, a non-secondary involvement of the autonomic nervous system in narcolepsy is strongly suggested, mainly by metabolic and cardiovascular findings. Furthermore, the recent discovery of a high risk for overweight and for metabolic syndrome in narcoleptic patients represents an important warning for clinicians in order to monitor and follow them up for their autonomic functions.We review here studies on autonomic functions and clinical disturbances in narcoleptic patients, trying to shed light on the possible contribute of alterations of the hypocretin system in autonomic pathophysiology.
AB - Narcolepsy is a clinical condition characterized mainly by excessive sleepiness and cataplexy. Hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis complete the narcoleptic tetrad; disrupted night sleep, automatic behaviors and weight gain are also usual complaints.Different studies focus on autonomic changes or dysfunctions among narcoleptic patients, such as pupillary abnormalities, fainting spells, erectile dysfunction, night sweats, gastric problems, low body temperature, systemic hypotension, dry mouth, heart palpitations, headache and extremities dysthermia. Even if many studies lack sufficient standardization or their results have not been replicated, a non-secondary involvement of the autonomic nervous system in narcolepsy is strongly suggested, mainly by metabolic and cardiovascular findings. Furthermore, the recent discovery of a high risk for overweight and for metabolic syndrome in narcoleptic patients represents an important warning for clinicians in order to monitor and follow them up for their autonomic functions.We review here studies on autonomic functions and clinical disturbances in narcoleptic patients, trying to shed light on the possible contribute of alterations of the hypocretin system in autonomic pathophysiology.
KW - Autonomic nervous system
KW - Cataplexy
KW - Hypocretin
KW - Narcolepsy
KW - Orexin
KW - Parasympathetic
KW - Sympathetic
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U2 - 10.1016/j.smrv.2010.05.002
DO - 10.1016/j.smrv.2010.05.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 20634114
AN - SCOPUS:79955010031
VL - 15
SP - 187
EP - 196
JO - Sleep Medicine Reviews
JF - Sleep Medicine Reviews
SN - 1087-0792
IS - 3
ER -