Clinical Characteristics and Burden of Illness in Pediatric Patients with Narcolepsy

Connecting clinicians and patients: The language of narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a rare lifelong sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness with variable expression of cataplexy, sleep paralysis, sleep-related hallucinations and disrupted nocturnal sleep. Affected individuals also experience additional impairing symptoms, including (but not limited to) difficulties with attention, memory and concentration, brain fog, mood instability and fatigue, with a substantial impact on everyday life. Diagnostic delays of up to 10 years are common, primarily due to the substantial heterogeneity in clinical presentation of narcolepsy symptoms and presence of significant comorbidities. The disconnect in language used by clinicians and patients could be a factor contributing to diagnostic delays, but it has not been much studied. We followed a two-part approach to investigate the impact of this possible mismatch in language use. Firstly, a comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify publications reporting discrepancies in language relating to narcolepsy symptoms used by clinicians and patients. As a gap in the literature was anticipated, we supplemented the search results with practical strategies based on our clinical experience to facilitate dialog between clinicians and people living with narcolepsy, as well as proposing future research ideas. The findings of the narrative review, complemented by expert clinical opinion, are intended to help clinicians recognize narcolepsy symptoms and to refer patients with suspected narcolepsy, when appropriate. Although it is unknown to what extent a disconnect in language may contribute to diagnostic delays, we hope that better recognition of the varied clinical presentations of narcolepsy will lead to timelier diagnosis and help improve patient outcomes.

Potential Role of Sleep Disturbance in the Development of Early Puberty: Past Clinical Evidence for Future Management

The incidence of early puberty in children has been increasing. It has been suspected that both genetic and various environmental factors such as nutrition and hormonal exposure could influence the mechanisms underlying the earlier onset of puberty. Interestingly, several previous studies have reported a strong connection between sleep and puberty. Specifically, it was discovered that luteinizing hormone (LH), a potential marker for the onset of puberty, was increased during the deep sleep period. Furthermore, a high prevalence of early puberty was observed in patients with sleep disorders, especially in those experiencing narcolepsy. In this review article, findings related to the association between sleep disturbance and early puberty have been comprehensively summarized. Any contrary findings are also included and discussed. Advances in the knowledge surrounding sleep disturbance have led to a greater understanding of a correlation between early puberty and sleep disorder and provide alternative therapeutic options for the treatment of central precocious puberty in the future.

Exploring the emotional and behavioural profile in paediatric narcolepsy type 1: A case-control study

Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a central disorder of hypersomnolence often arising in childhood and adolescence. NT1 has a significant, but poorly defined, psychological impact. We aimed to investigate the psycho-social functioning of children and adolescents with NT1. We performed a cross-sectional, child and parent-reported questionnaire survey in 37 children and adolescents (6-17 years) with NT1, compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Questionnaires (SSHS, ESS-CHAD, CDI, MASC, CBCL, CRS-R, and SNAP-IV) evaluated various aspects of behavioural and emotional profiles, sleep habits, and daytime sleepiness. Subsequently, NT1 intra-group analysis was performed to investigate the effect of sex (males vs females) and pharmacological treatment (treated vs non-treated) on psychological features. The NT1 questionnaires total scores were then correlated with the clinical characteristics (age, body mass index [BMI], ESS-CHAD score, cerebrospinal hypocretin-1 [Hcrt-1] levels, and diagnostic delay). Patients with NT1 showed a higher tendency to depressive symptoms, anxiety, somatisation, inattention, hyperactivity, oppositional/defiant problems, and other maladaptive behaviours compared with controls. Among NT1 patients, females showed a higher propensity to anxiety, and non-treated patients displayed higher depressive symptoms. Psychological symptoms increased with age, BMI, and daytime sleepiness in patients with NT1, while a younger age was associated with more frequent somatisation symptoms. Lower cerebrospinal Hcrt-1 levels correlated with poorer social competencies, daily activities, and inattention. Diagnostic delay was associated with a higher impact of depressive symptoms and behavioural problems. NT1 in children and adolescents is associated with poorer functioning in multiple psychological domains calling for a multidisciplinary approach and monitoring to reduce disease burden and to prevent psychiatric consequences.

Narcolepsy and rapid eye movement sleep

Since the first description of narcolepsy at the end of the 19th Century, great progress has been made. The disease is nowadays distinguished as narcolepsy type 1 and type 2. In the 1960s, the discovery of rapid eye movement sleep at sleep onset led to improved understanding of core sleep-related disease symptoms of the disease (excessive daytime sleepiness with early occurrence of rapid eye movement sleep, sleep-related hallucinations, sleep paralysis, rapid eye movement parasomnia), as possible dysregulation of rapid eye movement sleep, and cataplexy resembling an intrusion of rapid eye movement atonia during wake. The relevance of non-sleep-related symptoms, such as obesity, precocious puberty, psychiatric and cardiovascular morbidities, has subsequently been recognized. The diagnostic tools have been improved, but sleep-onset rapid eye movement periods on polysomnography and Multiple Sleep Latency Test remain key criteria. The pathogenic mechanisms of narcolepsy type 1 have been partly elucidated after the discovery of strong HLA class II association and orexin/hypocretin deficiency, a neurotransmitter that is involved in altered rapid eye movement sleep regulation. Conversely, the causes of narcolepsy type 2, where cataplexy and orexin deficiency are absent, remain unknown. Symptomatic medications to treat patients with narcolepsy have been developed, and management has been codified with guidelines, until the recent promising orexin-receptor agonists. The present review retraces the steps of the research on narcolepsy that linked the features of the disease with rapid eye movement sleep abnormality, and those that do not appear associated with rapid eye movement sleep.

Making sense of narcolepsy: A qualitative exploration of how persons with narcolepsy perceive symptoms and their illness experience

INTRODUCTION

Understanding how persons with narcolepsy conceptualize symptoms, daily impact and illness experience is key to facilitating dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals. These concepts are usually explored from the perspective of healthcare professionals/researchers and rarely from the perspective of those with narcolepsy.

METHODS

127 self-reported persons with narcolepsy were recruited from an Australian patient support group. A short demographic survey was completed. All agreed to participate in a subsequent 1:1 semi-structured interview. Saturation was reached after 24 interviews (mean age = 33 years (SD 11) with 44% reporting cataplexy). A multidisciplinary team of researchers/clinicians analyzed interview transcripts using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Participants perceived physical fatigue, sleepiness, and two separate experiences of 'falling asleep/sleep attacks' as distinct symptoms rather than a multidimensional construct (i.e. excessive daytime sleepiness). We also identified two experiences of cataplexy, one triggered by acute emotion and another by a stressor. Participants determined their narcolepsy to be 'well-managed' by the level of functional impairment rather than the frequency of any symptom. Almost all participants described experiencing anticipated stigma and internalized or 'self-' stigma, likely stemming from societal devaluation of sleep and the conflation of sleepiness with laziness.

CONCLUSION

Descriptions of common symptoms often differed between participants and the existing literature. These differences likely impact patient-physician communication, with both parties utilizing the same terminology to communicate different concepts. The characterization of stigma in narcolepsy presents opportunities for future research exploring the impact and possible development of interventions to reduce the substantial psychological comorbidity in persons with narcolepsy.

Role of Daytime Continuous Polysomnography in the Diagnosis of Pediatric Narcolepsy Type 1

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is still largely underdiagnosed or diagnosed too late in children. Difficulties in obtaining rapid and reliable diagnostic evaluations of the condition in clinical practice partially explain this problem. Predictors of NT1 include cataplexy and sleep-onset REM periods (SOREMPs), documented during nocturnal polysomnography (N-PSG) or through the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), although low CSF hypocretin-1 (CSF hcrt-1) is the definitive biological disease marker. Obtaining reliable MSLT results is not always feasible in children; therefore, this study aimed to validate daytime continuous polysomnography (D-PSG) as an alternative diagnostic tool.

METHODS

Two hundred consecutive patients aged younger than 18 years (112 with NT1; 25 with other hypersomnias, including narcolepsy type 2 and idiopathic hypersomnia; and 63 with subjective excessive daytime sleepiness) were randomly split into 2 groups: group 1 (n = 133) for the identification of diagnostic markers and group 2 (n = 67) for the validation of the detected markers. The D-PSG data collected included the number of spontaneous naps, total sleep time, and the number of daytime SOREMPs (d-SOREMP). D-PSG data were tested against CSF hcrt-1 deficiency (NT1 diagnosis) as the gold standard using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis in group 1. ROC diagnostic performances of single and combined D-PSG parameters were tested in group 1 and validated in group 2.

RESULTS

In group 1, the areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) were 0.91 (95% CI 0.86-0.96) for d-SOREMPs, 0.81 (95% CI 0.74-0.89) for the number of spontaneous naps, and 0.70 (95% CI 0.60-0.79) for total sleep time. A d-SOREMP count ≥1 (sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 72%), coupled with a diurnal total sleep time above 60 minutes (sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 91%), identified NT1 in group 1 with high reliability (area under the ROC curve of 0.93, 95% CI 0.88-0.97). These results were confirmed in the validation group with an AUC of 0.88 (95% CI 0.79-0.97).

DISCUSSION

D-PSG recording is an easily performed, cost-effective, and reliable tool for identifying NT1 in children. Further studies should confirm its validity with home D-PSG monitoring. These alternative procedures could be used to confirm NT1 diagnosis and curtail diagnostic delay.

Common Childhood Sleep Problems and Disorders

BACKGROUND

Sleep insufficiency and disturbances affect the physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being of children.

OBJECTIVE

To perform a narrative review on common sleep problems and disorders encountered in primary care for children and adolescents.

METHODS

A search of English literature in the Pubmed and Google Scholar databases published from 1 January 2000 till 31 October 2021 was conducted with the keywords "sleep problem" or "sleep disorder" and "child" or "adolescent". Findings in the relevant articles and cross-references were compiled.

RESULTS

Sleep duration and habits of children vary widely across countries with different cultural backgrounds. There is robust evidence to support the promotion of positive bedtime routines and sleep hygiene as prevention and management of sleep problems. 15-70% of parents reported their children having sleep problems or disturbances. Common sleep complaints include difficulty in initiation or maintenance of sleep, abnormal behaviors or movements, snoring or abnormal breathing, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Comprehensive sleep history and a sleep diary are the first steps for evaluation. Home video and actigraphy may be used as preliminary tools to confirm the history. Referrals to a sleep specialist for polysomnography and other tests are needed, if suspecting specific sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea and narcolepsy, needs timely intervention. Common sleep disorders in different age groups encountered in primary care are reviewed with clinical features, indications for evaluation, and treatment options summarized.

CONCLUSION

Screening for sleep problems shall be an integral part of each child's health care visit. It is important to evaluate the impact of common sleep problems and identify specific sleep disorders for early intervention to prevent long-term adverse outcomes.

Clinical Evaluation and Management of Narcolepsy in Children and Adolescents

While sleepiness is common among children, and particularly adolescents, profound sleepiness in the setting of apparently adequate sleep should prompt consideration of a central disorder of hypersomnolence. These disorders, which include narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, Kleine-Levin syndrome, and others, are likely underrecognized in the pediatric population. Narcolepsy in particular should be of interest to child neurologists as the unique signs and symptoms of this disease often prompt evaluation in pediatric neurology clinics. While sleepiness may appear to be a straightforward complaint, its evaluation requires a nuanced approach. Cataplexy, a hallmark of narcolepsy, can be confused for other neurologic conditions, though understanding its various manifestations makes it readily identifiable. Clinicians should be aware of these symptoms, as delay in diagnosis and misdiagnosis are common in childhood narcolepsy. While treatment options have been limited in the past, many new therapeutic options have become available and can result in significant improvement in symptoms. Given the age at presentation, paroxysmal and chronic features, diagnostic modalities, and available treatment options, the field of child neurology is well equipped to see patients with narcolepsy. In this review, I will focus on the presentation, evaluation, and management of pediatric patients with narcolepsy.

Sleep Stage Transitions and Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation in Children with Narcolepsy-Cataplexy

Electroencephalographic sleep stage transitions and altered first REM sleep period transitions have been identified as biomarkers of type 1 narcolepsy in adults, but not in children. Studies on memory complaints in narcolepsy have not yet investigated sleep-dependent memory consolidation. We aimed to explore stage transitions; more specifically altered REM sleep transition and its relationship with sleep-dependent memory consolidation in children with narcolepsy. Twenty-one children with narcolepsy-cataplexy and twenty-three healthy control children completed overnight polysomnography and sleep-dependent memory consolidation tests. Overnight transition rates (number of transitions per hour), global relative transition frequencies (number of transitions between a stage and all other stages/total number of transitions × 100), overnight transitions to REM sleep (transition from a given stage to REM/total REM transitions × 100), and altered first REM sleep period transitions (transitions from wake or N1 to the first REM period) were computed. Narcoleptic children had a significantly higher overnight transition rate with a higher global relative transition frequencies to wake. A lower sleep-dependent memory consolidation score found in children with narcolepsy was associated with a higher overnight transition frequency. As observed in narcoleptic adults, 90.48% of narcoleptic children exhibited an altered first REM sleep transition. As in adults, the altered sleep stage transition is also present in children with narcolepsy-cataplexy, and a higher transition rate could have an impact on sleep-dependent memory consolidation. These potential biomarkers could help diagnose type 1 narcolepsy in children more quickly; however, further studies with larger cohorts, including of those with type 2 narcolepsy and hypersomnia, are needed.

Circadian rhythm of daytime sleepiness in pediatric narcolepsy: A pilot study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) has been far back reported as the most disabling symptom in the pediatric narcoleptic patients. However, there is a lack of studies to examine the circadian rhythms of EDS in pediatric narcoleptic population. Therefore, we aim to investigate the circadian rhythm of EDS in pediatric narcolepsy patients.

METHODS

We identified 50 pediatric narcoleptic patients (36 males and 14 females, mean age 13.68 ± 2.75 years). Data were collected through interviews and the relevant questionnaires (children depression inventory [CDI] and the pediatric quality of life inventory [PedsQL]).

RESULT

The frequencies of sleep attacks during different intervals of the day differed significantly, with higher frequency in the morning (p < .001). The times of sleep attacks in the morning and in the afternoon were significantly associated with the degree of impairment on class and the severity of worry about sleepiness, with spearman correlation coefficient ranging from .289 to .496 (p < .05). The total scores of PedsQL and CDI differed significantly among morning sleepiness dominant, afternoon sleepiness dominant, and evening sleepiness dominant groups (p = .042, p = .040). The severity scores of the narcoleptic patients' sleepiness had two peaks, one of which occurred at 16:00, and the other peaks occurred at about 11:00.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that changes based on the circadian rhythm of sleepiness of the pediatric narcoleptic patients should be made in the treatment strategy. In addition, regulating the secretion of melatonin could serve as a promising treatment to relieve sleepiness in the future.

The Italian contribution to pediatric sleep medicine: A scientometric analysis

We conducted the first scientometric analysis to quantitatively assess the scientific contribution of researchers from Italian institutions in the field of pediatric sleep medicine. We searched Science Citation Index Expanded from Web of Science (WOS) Science Citation up to November 3rd, 2022. Bibliometrix R packages (3.1.4) and CiteSpace (6.0.R2) were used to extract and analyze co-citation reference networks, co-occurring keyword networks, co-authorship network, co-cited institutions, and co-cited journals. We retrieved a total of 2499 documents, published between 1975 and 2022. Co-cited reference networks showed four main clusters of highly cited topics: evidence synthesis of publications on sleep disorders in children and adolescents, sleep and neurological disorders, non-pharmacological treatments of sleep disturbances, and sleep and Covid-19 in youth. Co-occurring keyword networks showed an earlier focus on the neurophysiology of sleep/neurological disorders, followed by a trend on the association of sleep disturbances to neurodevelopmental disorders and behavioral aspects. Co-authorship network showed that Italian researchers in the field of pediatric sleep medicine tend to be highly collaborative internationally. Overall, Italian researchers have provided a crucial contribution to pediatric sleep medicine across a number of specific topics, spanning from neurophysiology to treatment, and from neurological to behavioral/psychopathological aspects.

Resilience and its correlates in patients with narcolepsy type 1

STUDY OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore resilience and its possible association with sociodemographic and clinical features in patients with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1).

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study involving patients with NT1 and age-/sex-matched controls (comparison group). Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected through semistructured interviews and validated questionnaires, including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)-State Anxiety, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36), and the Resilience Scale (RS). Different statistical approaches were used to investigate the relationship between resilience and NT1 and associations with sociodemographic and clinical features.

RESULTS

The participants comprised 137 patients (mean age, 38.0 years; 52.6% female) and 149 controls (39.6 years; 55.7% female). Compared with controls, patients had a significantly lower (122.6 vs 135.5) mean RS score and a 2-fold risk of having low/mild-range resilience (adjusted odds ratio = 1.99, 95% confidence interval 1.13-3.52). Patients with high resilience had sociodemographic and narcolepsy characteristics similar to patients with low resilience, but they reported anxiety and depressive symptomatology less frequently (4.2% vs 55.8% and 58.3%, respectively), and their SF-36 scores were comparable to those of the comparison group. In patients, RS score was strongly associated with STAI-State Anxiety and BDI (rho = -0.57 and -0.56, respectively) and weakly with ESS (rho = -20) scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that resilience may play a key role in patients' adaptation to NT1. Furthermore, this study supports interventions aimed at increasing patients' resilience and provides a base for further studies, preferably longitudinal and including objective measures, directed toward understanding the relationship between resilience, depression, and quality of life in patients with narcolepsy.

CITATION

D'Alterio A, Menchetti M, Zenesini C, et al. Resilience and its correlates in patients with narcolepsy type 1. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(4):719-726.

School Problems and School Support for Children with Narcolepsy: Parent, Teacher, and Child Reports

OBJECTIVE

To assess problems faced by children with type 1 narcolepsy (NT1) at school and obtain insight into potential interventions for these problems.

METHODS

We recruited children and adolescents with NT1 from three Dutch sleep-wake centers. Children, parents, and teachers completed questionnaires about school functioning, interventions in the classroom, global functioning (DISABKIDS), and depressive symptoms (CDI).

RESULTS

Eighteen children (7-12 years) and thirty-seven adolescents (13-19 years) with NT1 were recruited. Teachers' most frequently reported school problems were concentration problems and fatigue (reported by about 60% in both children and adolescents). The most common arrangements at school were, for children, discussing school excursions (68%) and taking a nap at school (50%) and, for adolescents, a place to nap at school (75%) and discussing school excursions (71%). Regular naps at home on the weekend (children 71% and adolescents 73%) were more common than regular naps at school (children 24% and adolescents 59%). Only a minority of individuals used other interventions. School support by specialized school workers was associated with significantly more classroom interventions (3.5 versus 1.0 in children and 5.2 versus 4.1 in adolescents) and napping at school, but not with better global functioning, lower depressive symptom levels, or napping during the weekends.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with NT1 have various problems at school, even after medical treatment. Interventions to help children with NT1 within the classroom do not seem to be fully implemented. School support was associated with the higher implementation of these interventions. Longitudinal studies are warranted to examine how interventions can be better implemented within the school.

Real-world treatment of pediatric narcolepsy with pitolisant: A retrospective, multicenter study

BACKGROUND

First symptoms of narcolepsy mostly present during childhood. Pharmacological management options in children are limited, also due to approval status. Pitolisant is an inverse histamine 3 receptor agonist and has been approved for the treatment of adult narcolepsy with or without cataplexy by EMA and FDA. Clinical experience indicates for a beneficial use also in children and adolescents. Our goal was to evaluate the effects and tolerability of pitolisant in narcolepsy children/adolescents in a real-world setting.

METHODS

This multicentre retrospective observational study included 55 patients with narcolepsy from three international narcolepsy centers (Germany, France and Italy) who were treated with pitolisant. Patients were eligible if they were at least 6 years old and diagnosed with narcolepsy type 1 or 2. Demographic and clinical characteristics, questionnaires, sleep medicine and laboratory data were collected.

RESULTS

55 children/adolescents (25 girls, 45.45%, 30 boys, 54.55%) aged 6-18 years, with narcolepsy (type 1 = 92.7%, type 2 = 7.3%), were treated with pitolisant. The mean pitolisant dose was 34.1 mg/d. Treatment was effective for excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and cataplexy: the pediatric Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score decreased from 19 to 13.5 (p < 0.001) and the weekly cataplexy frequency improved from 7.9 at baseline to 5.2 (p < 0.001). Treatment with pitolisant was well tolerated. Side effects were mild and mostly short-term. Insomnia was reported most frequently (5.5%).

CONCLUSION

First real-world results suggest that pitolisant treatment is effective in improving EDS and cataplexy in children with narcolepsy, and also is well tolerated.

Narcolepsy and emotions: Is there a place for a theory of mind approach?

Narcolepsy type 1 is a central disorder of hypersomnolence characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, rapid eye movement sleep-related manifestations, and cataplexy. In the current literature there is general agreement regarding neural correlates of Narcolepsy type 1 that appear to be related to anatomical and functional abnormalities in the hypothalamic region. In the last two decades, researchers shed light on the neurological bases of cataplexy by focusing on the neurobiological correlates of emotions. Although the results of these studies differ, they all point to an impairment in the amygdala and hypothalamus functions that are known to be involved in emotional processing, suggesting an impairment in this domain in narcoleptic patients. Indeed, despite heterogeneous results, several studies showed that narcoleptic patients differed from healthy controls in processing emotional stimuli. From a behavioral point of view, these findings suggest that alterations in emotional processing may be driven, at least in part, by compensatory strategies to avoid or reduce the frequency of cataplexy attacks. Surprisingly, the only study exploring in NT1 the behavioural performances in emotional facial recognition found no differences between NT1 adults and controls. We hypothesize that narcoleptic patients may present an alteration in a more complex socio-cognitive ability that is related to emotional processing, namely Theory of Mind. This review aims to investigate the literature supporting this hypothesis and to propose possible future developments on this topic.

What, when and by whom? Adolescents' and parents' preferences concerning narcolepsy information

OBJECTIVE

To investigate adolescents' and parents' preferences concerning information on narcolepsy.

METHODS

During a one-year cross-sectional study, adolescents (12-20 years old) with narcolepsy and parents attending the Narcolepsy Center of Bologna (Italy) were invited to fill in a questionnaire including 28 pieces of information regarding narcolepsy, 14 concerning medical issues (i.e., diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, management) and 14 concerning psychosocial issues (i.e., impact on everyday life, relationships, possible support). Participants were asked to indicate: the importance of each item on a 5-point Likert scale; when each piece of information should be provided (diagnostic suspicion, confirmed diagnosis, follow-up visits, upon patient's request); and who should provide it (doctor, nurse, psychologist, parents and/or others).

RESULTS

Sixty-two adolescents (37% female, mean age 16.4 years) and 96 parents (58% female, mean age 48.2 years) agreed to participate (100% response rate). Parents rated all items as important (score≥4), while, according to adolescents, 11/14 medical and psychosocial issues were important. The moment of diagnosis was considered the right time to give almost all medical information. Regarding psychosocial issues, mothers mainly indicated the time of diagnosis, while fathers also indicated follow-up visits, and some children opted for follow-up visits or information upon request. The doctor was the preferred provider but when information concerned psychosocial issues, adolescents also indicated the parents, and parents also indicated the psychologist.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that information on narcolepsy should be comprehensive and tailored, and that parents and psychologists may support the doctor in providing information when narcolepsy is diagnosed during adolescence.

COVID-19 Vaccination in Young People with Functional Neurological Disorder: A Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND

The emergence of acute-onset functional neurological symptoms, the focus of this study, is one of three stress responses related to immunisation. This case-control study documents the experience of 61 young people with past or current functional neurological disorder (FND) in relation to the COVID-19 vaccination program in Australia.

METHODS

Information about the young person's/parent's choice and response pertaining to COVID-19 vaccination was collected as part of routine clinical care or FND research program follow-up.

RESULTS

61 young people treated for FND (47 females, mean age = 16.22 years) and 46 healthy controls (34 females, mean age = 16.37 years) were included in the study. Vaccination rates were high: 58/61 (95.1%) in the FND group and 45/46 (97.8%) in the control group. In the FND group, 2 young people (2/61, 3.3%) presented with new-onset FND following COVID-19 vaccination; two young people with resolved FND reported an FND relapse (2/36, 5.56%); and two young people with unresolved FND (2/20, 10.0%) reported an FND exacerbation. In the control group no FND symptoms were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute-onset FND symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination are uncommon in the general population. In young people prone to FND, COVID-19 vaccination can sometimes trigger new-onset FND, FND relapse, or FND exacerbation.

A Latent Profile Analysis of Sleep, Anxiety, and Mood in Youth with Craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngioma is a histologically benign brain tumor that arises in the suprasellar region affecting critical neurovascular structures including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and optic pathways. Children with craniopharyngioma often experience excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) which may be compounded by anxiety and depression. The current study investigated disparate sleep profiles to better understand psychological adjustment among children diagnosed with craniopharyngioma.

METHOD

Actigraphs recorded nightly sleep data, including measures of sleep onset latency (SOL) and wake after sleep onset (WASO), in a cohort of 80 youth between the ages of 2 and 20 years (median age = 9). Parent reports of behavioral and emotional functioning were included in the analysis. A latent profile analysis examined disparate sleep profiles, and a multinomial logistic regression examined differences of anxiety and depression among the sleep profiles.

RESULTS

The latent profile analysis revealed three sleep profiles: "healthy sleepers" (68.8%), "night wakers" (21.3%), and "prolonged onset sleepers" (10.0%). Contrary to expectations, sleep profiles were not associated with daytime anxiety (β = 2.26-4.30, p > .05) or depression (β = -5.87-4.74, p > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Youth with craniopharyngioma demonstrate poor sleep and EDS. Those with delayed SOL and prolonged WASO are particularly vulnerable to disrupted nighttime sleep, which may significantly compound EDS. Disrupted sleep was not associated with anxiety or depression, which may be related to the overall poor sleep and daytime sleepiness or to timing, as patients were early in their treatment course. Further study should evaluate the factors underlying sleepiness and daytime function in patients with craniopharyngioma.

Exploring Addictive Online Behaviors in Patients with Narcolepsy Type 1

BACKGROUND

Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a rare neurological sleep disorder caused by the loss of neurons that produce hypocretin-a peptide that plays a crucial role in addictive behaviors. We aimed to compare, for the first time, levels of problematic online gaming, problematic social media use, and compulsive Internet use between NT1 patients and healthy controls (HC), and to evaluate the association between anxiety, depression, and emotion dysregulation with addictive online behaviors in NT1 patients.

METHODS

A total of 43 patients with NT1 and 86 sex- and age-matched HC participated in an online cross-sectional survey.

RESULTS

NT1 patients did not differ from HC in terms of problematic social media use and compulsive Internet use but displayed higher levels of problematic online gaming compared to HC. Higher levels of emotion dysregulation were significantly associated with higher levels of problematic social media use and compulsive Internet use, while none of the tested factors were associated with problematic online gaming.

CONCLUSION

NT1 patients and HC had similar levels of problematic social media use and compulsive Internet use, but NT1 patients showed higher levels of problematic online gaming. Emotion dysregulation might be an intervention target for reducing compulsive Internet use and problematic social media use.

Secondary Narcolepsy as Worsening Sign in a Pediatric Case of Optic Pathway Glioma

Narcolepsy, a neurologic disorder that leads to excessive daytime sleepiness, may represent a rare consequence of neoplastic lesions involving the sellar/parasellar and hypothalamic regions, the anatomical areas responsible for wakefulness. Optic pathway gliomas represent the most common neoplasm of these regions and present an excellent overall survival, while long-term neurologic impairments, such as visual loss, endocrinopathies, or sleep disorders, are the principal causes of morbidity. In this case report, we describe a non-NF1 patient suffering from a very extensive optical pathway glioma, who several years after the diagnosis in a radiological condition of stable disease, presented with severe narcolepsy, a rare complication, that led to the death of the patient.

Precocious puberty in narcolepsy type 1: Orexin loss and/or neuroinflammation, which is to blame?

Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a rare neurological sleep disorder triggered by postnatal loss of the orexin/hypocretin neuropeptides. Overweight/obesity and precocious puberty are highly prevalent comorbidities of NT1, with a close temporal correlation with disease onset, suggesting a common origin. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown and merit further investigation. The main question we address in this review is whether the occurrence of precocious puberty in NT1 is due to the lack of orexin/hypocretin or rather to a wider hypothalamic dysfunction in the context of neuroinflammation, which is likely to accompany the disease given its autoimmune origins. Our analysis suggests that the suspected generalized neuroinflammation of the hypothalamus in NT1 would tend to delay puberty rather than hastening it. In contrast, that the brutal loss of orexin/hypocretin would favor an early reactivation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion during the prepubertal period in vulnerable children, leading to early puberty onset. Orexin/hypocretin replacement could thus be envisaged as a potential treatment for precocious puberty in NT1. Additionally, we put forward an alternative hypothesis regarding the concomitant occurrence of sleepiness, weight gain and early puberty in NT1.

Long-term safety and maintenance of efficacy of sodium oxybate in the treatment of narcolepsy with cataplexy in pediatric patients

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Evaluate long-term efficacy and safety of sodium oxybate (SXB) in children and adolescents (aged 7-16 years) with narcolepsy with cataplexy.

METHODS

A double-blind randomized withdrawal study was conducted. Prior to randomization, SXB-naive participants were titrated to an efficacious and tolerable dose of SXB; participants taking SXB entered on their established dose. Following a 2-week stable-dose period and 2-week, double-blind, randomized withdrawal period, participants entered an open-label period (OLP; ≤ 47 weeks). Efficacy measures during the OLP included number of weekly cataplexy attacks, cataplexy-free days, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale for Children and Adolescents (ESS-CHAD). Safety outcomes included treatment-emergent adverse events; assessments of depression, anxiety, and suicidality; and polysomnography.

RESULTS

Of 106 enrolled participants, 95 entered and 85 completed the OLP. In SXB-naive participants and participants previously taking SXB, efficacy of SXB established prior to the double-blind, randomized withdrawal period was maintained throughout the OLP for number of weekly cataplexy attacks (median [quartile 1, quartile 3] change from the stable-dose period to end of the OLP: 0.0 [-2.5, 4.9] and 0.0 [-3.4, 2.6], respectively) and ESS-CHAD scores (0.0 [-3.0, 2.5] and 1.0 [-3.0, 3.0], respectively). The median (quartile 1, quartile 3) number of cataplexy-free days per week was 2.3 (0.0, 6.0) in OLP week 1 and 3.8 (0.5, 5.5) in week 48. Treatment-emergent adverse events (≥ 5%) were enuresis, nausea, vomiting, headache, decreased weight, decreased appetite, nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, and dizziness.

CONCLUSIONS

SXB demonstrated long-term maintenance of efficacy in pediatric narcolepsy with cataplexy, with a safety profile consistent with that observed in adults.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Name: A Multicenter Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Xyrem with an Open-Label Pharmacokinetic Evaluation and Safety Extension in Pediatric Subjects with Narcolepsy with Cataplexy; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02221869; Identifier: NCT02221869.

CITATION

Lecendreux M, Plazzi G, Dauvilliers Y, et al. Long-term safety and maintenance of efficacy of sodium oxybate in the treatment of narcolepsy with cataplexy in pediatric patients. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(9):2217-2227.

Sleep and Psychosocial Characteristics of Children with Narcolepsy According to Their Intellectual Profile: A Case–Control Study

Adequate intellectual abilities are a protective factor for psychosocial adjustments in chronic disorders. The main objective of this study was to assess the cognitive abilities, sleep, and psychosocial characteristics of children with narcolepsy compared to controls, according to their intellectual profile. Children underwent a polysomnography, completed an intellectual ability assessment, and filled out standardized questionnaires. The group with an intelligence quotient (IQ) in the area of high intellectual potential (high IQ, HIQ) consisted of 25 children with narcolepsy (HIQ-N, 40% boys, median age 11.5 years, 48% with obesity, 60% under treatment) and 25 controls (HIQ-C, 68% boys, median age 11.7 years). Compared to HIQ-C, HIQ-N had a lower perceptual reasoning index and fewer conduct disorders. The group with an IQ in the normal range (NIQ) consisted of 22 children with narcolepsy (NIQ-N, 55% boys, median age 12.1 years, 59% with obesity, 64% under treatment) and 21 controls (NIQ-C, 68% boys, median age 10 years). NIQ-N presented the same intellectual profile as NIQ-C but reported more school difficulties. In children with HIQ, those with narcolepsy appear to have a different cognitive profile than controls. NIQ seems to predict a greater impact of narcolepsy on daily-life functioning.

Demographic and Clinical Correlates of Narcolepsy in Adolescents Hospitalized with Mood Disorders: A Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Study

OBJECTIVES

To discern the differences in demographic, clinical comorbidities, and hospital outcomes associated with narcolepsy in adolescents hospitalized for mood disorders.

METHODS

We included 639,064 adolescents hospitalized with mood disorders, that is, major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorders (BP) from the nationwide inpatient sample. About 0.04% of inpatients had comorbid narcolepsy (N = 267) and we extracted a demographically matched control group (N = 270) for comparison.

RESULTS

Mood-disordered adolescents with narcolepsy had a higher prevalence of comorbid obesity (18.5% in BP,14.4% in MDD) and sleep apnea (9.3% in BP, 9.6% in MDD) compared to those without narcolepsy. Obesity and sleep apnea were significantly more prevalent in Black adolescents hospitalized for MDD and BP (P < .001). There was a higher percentage of females with BP and comorbid narcolepsy than males (59.9% vs 40.1%). In comparison, MDD and comorbid narcolepsy were observed more in males (57.1% vs 42.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study results suggest a significantly higher prevalence of obesity and sleep apnea comorbidity in mood-disordered adolescents with narcolepsy with an overall negative impact on hospital outcomes.

Evaluation of psychometric properties of patient-reported outcome measures frequently used in narcolepsy randomized controlled trials: a systematic review

Study Objectives

To systematically determine subjective and objective outcome measures used to measure the efficacy of narcolepsy interventions in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in adults and children and assess psychometric properties of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) used.

Methods

We searched bibliographical databases and clinical trial registries for narcolepsy RCTs and extracted objective and subjective outcome measures. If PROMs were used, we searched for psychometric studies conducted in a narcolepsy population using bibliographical databases and appraised using Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) guidelines.

Results

In total, 80 different outcome measures were used across 100 RCTs. Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) (n = 49) and Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (n = 47) were the most frequently used outcome measures. We found 19 validation studies of 10 PROMs in narcolepsy populations. There was limited evidence for validity or responsiveness of the ESS; yet sufficient reliability (pooled ICC: 0.81–0.87). Narcolepsy Severity Scale (NSS) had sufficient reliability (pooled ICC: 0.71–0.92) and both adult and pediatric versions had sufficient discriminant validity (treated/untreated). Content validity was only evaluated in pediatric populations for ESS-CHAD and NSS-P and rated inconclusive. Quality of evidence of the psychometric studies for all scales ranged from very low to low.

Conclusions

Although recognized by regulatory bodies and widely used as primary outcome measures in trials, there is surprisingly little evidence for the validity, reliability, and responsiveness of PROMs frequently used to assess treatment efficacy in narcolepsy. The field needs to establish patient-centered minimal clinically important differences for the PROMs used in these trials.

Child Neurology: A Case Series of Heterogeneous Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Outcome in Very Early-Onset Narcolepsy Type 1

Narcolepsy type 1 is a central disorder of hypersomnolence characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy (i.e., sudden loss of muscle tone during wakefulness triggered by emotions), and rapid eye movement sleep-related manifestations that can present with a peculiar phenotype when arising at a pediatric age. Several features of childhood-onset narcolepsy type 1 are also common in neuropsychiatric conditions; discrete neuropsychiatric comorbidity has also been demonstrated.Here we report on three children with very early narcolepsy type 1. All three patients had psychiatric features at time of symptom onset coupled with peculiar motor disturbances. The course of narcolepsy symptoms also paralleled neuropsychiatric symptoms, suggesting a possible intrinsic link between sleep and psychological features.Multidisciplinary management is mandatory for pediatric narcolepsy type 1 since prompt disease management addressing neuropsychiatric symptoms could lead to better clinical outcomes and quality of life.

Finnish children who experienced narcolepsy after receiving the Pandemrix vaccine during the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic demonstrated high level of psychosocial problems

AIM

We assessed psychosocial burdens in children who developed narcolepsy after receiving the Pandemrix H1N1 vaccine during the 2009-2010 pandemic. Parental quality of life was also assessed.

METHODS

This multicentre study covered four of the five Finnish University Hospital Districts, which dealt with about 90% of the paediatric narcolepsy cases after the Pandemrix vaccination. The medical records of children diagnosed from 2010 to 2014 were reviewed. The questionnaires included the Youth Self-Report (YSR), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and questions on parental resources, stress and quality of life.

RESULTS

We obtained the medical records of 94 children who were aged 5-17 years at the time of their narcolepsy diagnosis and questionnaire data for 73 of those children. Most children had strong narcolepsy symptoms, and 25% had CDI scores that suggested depression. In addition, 41% had total CBCL problem scores above the clinically significant limit and 48% were anxious, withdrawn and had somatic complaints. Sleep latency was weakly associated with the CBCL total problem score. Half of the children needed psychiatric interventions and parental stress was common.

CONCLUSION

Depression and behavioural problems were common in children with narcolepsy after the Pandemrix vaccination and their parents frequently reported feeling stressed.

Portrayals of narcolepsy from 1980 to 2020: a descriptive analysis of stigmatizing content in newspaper articles

STUDY OBJECTIVES

The media are the primary source of information about health for the public. The media portrayal of narcolepsy might contribute to the stigmatization of people affected by this condition. This study aimed to describe how narcolepsy is portrayed in newspapers.

METHODS

We collected 257 newspaper articles from the digital archive of "La Stampa" published between 1980 and 2020 that mentioned key search terms. The content was assessed using an ad-hoc coding schema developed to evaluate the presence of sensationalistic title, negative language, stigmatizing content, stereotypical description, disclosure of a person diagnosed with narcolepsy, person with narcolepsy described as dangerous, presence of an accurate diagnosis, identifiable symptoms, indications about diagnostic and treatment services. The Chi-squared analysis was performed to identify changes over time in the type of content.

RESULTS

In 10.9% of the articles, there was a sensationalistic title; inappropriate, negative, and outdated language appeared in 10.5% of the articles. Stigmatizing and stereotypical content were reported in 19.5% and 14.8% of the articles, respectively. In 62.3% of the articles, it was disclosed that a person has narcolepsy, and in 5.1% of the articles patients with narcolepsy are described as dangerous. 30.4% of the articles referred to the presence of an accurate diagnosis, while 16.7% described identifiable symptoms. Services for diagnosis and treatment were mentioned in 24.1% of the articles. Changes over time in the content of articles are discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight areas for improvement in the media portrayal of narcolepsy and could help guide the development of new targeted antistigma campaigns.

Pediatric Sleep Medicine Cases

Purpose of the Review

In this review, we will discuss commonly encountered pediatric sleep disorders, their clinical presentations, evaluation, and management.

Recent Findings

Sleep problems are common complaints in the pediatric population with an estimated prevalence of at least 25%. This review examines frequently seen pediatric sleep disorders including insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, hypersomnolence, circadian rhythm sleep–wake disorders, parasomnias, and movement disorders. Their clinical manifestations vary, but left untreated, these sleep disorders result in significant impairment. A detailed sleep history is key component in the evaluation process. Other useful tools include sleep diaries, questionnaires, and actigraphy. Polysomnography is often required for diagnosis. Treatment varies depending on the underlying sleep disorder. Pharmacologic treatment is often limited due to the lack of studies of safety and efficacy in the pediatric population.

Summary

Sleep disorders are commonly encountered in the pediatric population. Their clinical manifestations vary, though without treatment, many result in significant impairment. Detailed sleep history is an essential part of the evaluation process, though polysomnography is often required. Treatment depends on the underlying diagnosis.

The relationship between sleep and depression and bipolar disorder in children and young people

BACKGROUND

Sleep difficulties are often reported in practice, and are part of the diagnostic criteria for depression and bipolar disorder.

AIMS

To inform the understanding of the relationship between sleep and both depression and bipolar disorder.

METHOD

We conducted a narrative literature review of affective disorders and sleep difficulties in children and young people.

RESULTS

Specific sleep disorders, such as parasomnias, narcolepsy and sleep-related movement disorders, are associated with depression, whereas insomnia, obstructive sleep apnoea and circadian rhythm disorders are associated with both depression and bipolar disorder in children and young people. Conversely, children and young people with depression can present with a number of sleep difficulties, and these are associated with higher depression severity and greater fatigue, suicidal ideation, physical complaints, pain and decreased concentration. Sleep disturbances among adolescents with bipolar disorder can affect the severity of depressive and manic symptoms, are a poor prognostic indicator and have been associated with social and academic impairment. Antidepressants and antipsychotics can directly affect sleep architecture, which clinicians need to be aware of. Non-pharmacological interventions for sleep problems could prevent and/or minimise the risk of relapse in affective disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep difficulties can occur before, during and after an episode of depression or bipolar disorder, and have a higher prevalence in affective disorders compared with the general population. A multi-modal approach would include the treatment of both the affective and specific sleep disorder. Further research is needed in this field to understand the impact of combined interventions on clinical outcomes.

Dissociative Symptoms are Highly Prevalent in Adults with Narcolepsy Type 1

INTRODUCTION

The core symptoms of narcolepsy such as excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy are well known. However, there is mounting evidence for a much broader symptom spectrum, including psychiatric symptoms. Disordered sleep has previously been linked with dissociative symptoms, which may imply that patients with narcolepsy are more prone to develop such symptoms.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the frequency of dissociative symptoms in adult patients with narcolepsy type 1 compared to population controls.

METHODS

In a retrospective case control study, sixty adult patients fulfilling the criteria for narcolepsy type 1 and 120 matched population control subjects received a structured interview using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) to assess dissociative symptoms and disorders.

RESULTS

A majority of narcolepsy patients reported dissociative symptoms, and even fulfilled the DSM-IV-TR criteria of a dissociative disorder (62% vs 1% in controls, p < .001). Most frequently reported symptoms were "dissociative amnesia" (37% vs 1%, p < .001) and "dissociative disorder of voluntary movement" (32% vs 1%, p < .001).

CONCLUSION

Dissociative symptoms are strikingly prevalent in adult patients with narcolepsy type 1. Although a formal diagnosis of dissociation disorder should not be made as the symptoms can be explained by narcolepsy as an underlying condition, the findings do illustrate the extent and severity of the dissociative symptoms. As for the pathophysiological mechanism, there may be symptom overlap between narcolepsy and dissociation disorder. However, there may also be a more direct link between disrupted sleep and dissociative symptoms. In either case, the high frequency of occurrence of dissociative symptoms should result in an active inquiry by doctors, to improve therapeutic management and guidance.

Daytime sleepiness and emotional and behavioral disturbances in Prader-Willi syndrome

Individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) often have excessive daytime sleepiness and emotional/behavioral disturbances. The objective of this study was to examine whether daytime sleepiness was associated with these emotional/behavioral problems, independent of nighttime sleep-disordered breathing, or the duration of sleep. Caregivers of individuals with PWS (aged 3 to 25 years) completed the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ), Epworth Sleepiness Scale for Children and Adolescents (ESS-CHAD), and the parent version of the Developmental Behavior Checklist (DBC-P). Sleep adequacy was adjusted for age by computing sleep duration against age-specific recommendations. The associations between ESS-CHAD and the total DBC and its subscale scores were evaluated by linear regression, adjusted for sleep-related breathing difficulties, sleep adequacy, and body mass index (BMI). There were 54 responses for individuals with PWS (including 22 males) aged 4.4-24.0 (mean 12.5) years. Daytime sleepiness predicted a substantial proportion of the variance in total DBC-P scores in the unadjusted model (28%; β = 0.028; p < 0.001) and when adjusted for sleep adequacy, BMI, and sleep-related breathing difficulties (29%; β = 0.023; p = 0.007). This relationship was not moderated by BMI Z-scores, but the relationship was more prominent for children younger than 12 years than for children older than 12 years.Conclusions: These findings provide preliminary novel evidence that daytime sleepiness may drive the expression of emotional/behavioral disturbances, and should be explored as a potential modifiable risk factor for these disturbances in PWS, particularly pre-adolescent children.

Do Anxiety and Mood Vary among Disparate Sleep Profiles in Youth with Craniopharyngioma? A Latent Profile Analysis

Craniopharyngioma is a histologically benign brain tumor that arises in the suprasellar region affecting critical neurovascular structures including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and optic pathways. Children with craniopharyngioma often experience excessive daytime sleepiness which may be compounded by anxiety and depression. The current study investigated disparate sleep profiles to better understand psychological adjustment among children diagnosed with craniopharyngioma. Method: Actigraphs recorded nightly sleep data, including measures of sleep onset latency and wake after sleep onset, in a cohort of 80 youth between the ages of 2 and 20 years (median age = 9). Parent reports of behavioral and emotional functioning were included in the analysis. A latent profile analysis examined disparate sleep profiles, and a multinomial logistic regression examined differences of anxiety and depression among the sleep profiles. Results: The latent profile analysis revealed three sleep profiles: "variable sleepers" (48.3%), "consistently poor sleepers" (45.4%), and "night wakers" (6.4%). Consistently poor sleepers had lower rates of anxiety (g = .76; p = .009) and depression (g = .81; p = .003) than variable sleepers and had significantly lower rates of anxiety than night wakers (g = .52; p = .05); all other differences were nonsignificant (ps > .05). Discussion: Youth with craniopharyngioma who have nightly variations in sleep may have worse psychological functioning than those with more consistent, albeit poor, sleep patterns. Patients with craniopharyngioma who report variable sleep should be assessed for anxiety and depression to prevent and intervene on emotional difficulties that may be reciprocally related to sleep.

Current Understanding of Narcolepsy 1 and its Comorbidities: What Clinicians Need to Know

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurologic disorder associated with the dysregulation of the sleep–wake cycle that often leads to a decreased quality of life and results in a considerable health burden. There is often a delay to diagnosis of narcolepsy, mainly due to the lack of recognition of this disorder. One of the main factors hindering the diagnosis of narcolepsy is the association of comorbidities, which include other sleep disorders, psychiatric disorders, cardiovascular disorders, and metabolic disorders. The signs and symptoms of these comorbidities often overlap with those of narcolepsy, and some of the medications used for their treatment may obscure the symptoms of narcolepsy, leading to a delay in diagnosis. This review is targeted to clinicians unaccustomed to working with sleep disorders and aims to increase recognition and improve the management of narcolepsy.

Narcolepsia na Infância: A Atuação Multidisciplinar com a Psicologia do Sono do Diagnóstico ao Tratamento em um Relato de Caso

Resumo A narcolepsia, distúrbio neurológico crônico caracterizado pela sonolência diurna excessiva, pode ser associada à cataplexia, fragmentação do sono, alucinações relacionadas ao sono e paralisia do sono. Frequentemente, é confundida com outros transtornos, como Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade (TDAH), epilepsia e até esquizofrenia, assim, por vezes, é diagnosticada inadequadamente. Objetiva-se relatar o diagnóstico diferencial bem-sucedido da narcolepsia na infância e suas dificuldades, realizado por uma equipe multidisciplinar, enfocando a atuação da psicologia do sono em avaliação e intervenção. Um menino de 10 anos foi recebido no Ambulatório de Narcolepsia e Apneia do Sono Infantil (AMBNAP), alocado no Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) com queixas de sonolência diurna excessiva, sono fragmentado e episódios de perda de tônus muscular. Foi submetido a entrevistas psiquiátrica e psicológica pormenorizadas, a exames, aplicação de escalas específicas para rastreio e diagnóstico de transtornos de sono e diário de sono, solicitação de recursos de mídia e de relatório escolar e avaliação neurológica. A partir da investigação multidisciplinar, o diagnóstico foi de Narcolepsia e Síndrome da Apneia Obstrutiva do Sono (SAOS). O paciente foi submetido a técnicas da Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental (TCC) e segue em acompanhamento, apresentando resultados satisfatórios. Este estudo evidencia que uma equipe multidisciplinar especializada na área de sono atuando em conjunto com a Psicologia do Sono oportuniza o diagnóstico e intervenções precoces eficazes para o tratamento do distúrbio do sono na infância.

BMI changes in pediatric type 1 narcolepsy under sodium oxybate treatment

Pediatric type 1 narcolepsy (NT1) is often associated with overweight and obesity. Sodium oxybate (SO), approved for the treatment of narcolepsy with cataplexy from the age of 7 years old in the United States, has been associated with weight loss, although longitudinal pediatric studies are lacking. We report a retrospective cohort of 129 consecutive patients with a 4-year follow-up, to analyze the impact of different pharmacological treatments on body mass index (BMI) z-score. At baseline, the prevalence of obesity and overweight was 26.4% (34/129) and 29.5% (38/129), respectively. Patients were divided into three groups: children treated with SO alone (group 1), with SO-combined therapy (group 2), and without SO (group 3). At the end of the first year of follow-up, group 1 and group 2 showed a significant BMI z-score reduction compared to baseline: from 1.2 ± 1.1 to 0.4 ± 1.4 for group 1 (p < 0.001), and from 1.4 ± 1.1 to 1 ± 1.3 for group 2 (p = 0.002), independently from baseline clinical features. In the second year, only group 2 experienced a further and significant BMI z-score decrease (from 1.0 ± 1.2 to 0.6 ± 1.2, p = 0.037). No further significant BMI z-score changes were observed in SO-treated patients in the following years. Instead, children treated without SO developed a significant weight increase between the second and third year of therapy (BMI z-score from 0.3 ± 0.9 to 0.5 ± 0.9). In conclusion, SO treatment in pediatric NT1 is associated with a favorable weight reduction in the first year of treatment.

Hypothalamus and amygdala functional connectivity at rest in narcolepsy type 1

INTRODUCTION

functional and structural MRI studies suggest that the orexin (hypocretin) deficiency in the dorso-lateral hypothalamus of narcoleptic patients would influence both brain metabolism and perfusion and would cause reduction in cortical grey matter. Previous fMRI studies have mainly focused on cerebral functioning during emotional processing. The aim of the present study was to explore the hemodynamic behaviour of spontaneous BOLD fluctuation at rest in patients with Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) close to disease onset.

METHODS

Fifteen drug naïve children/adolescents with NT1 (9 males; mean age 11.7 ± 3 years) and fifteen healthy children/adolescents (9 males; mean age 12.4 ± 2.8 years) participated in an EEG-fMRI study in order to investigate the resting-state functional connectivity of hypothalamus and amygdala. Functional images were acquired on a 3 T system. Seed-based functional connectivity analyses were performed using SPM12. Regions of Interest were the lateral hypothalamus and the amygdala.

RESULTS

compared to controls, NT1 patients showed decreased functional connectivity between the lateral hypothalamus and the left superior parietal lobule, the hippocampus and the parahippocampal gyrus. Decreased functional connectivity was detected between the amygdala and the post-central gyrus and several occipital regions, whereas it was increased between the amygdala and the inferior frontal gyrus, claustrum, insula, and putamen.

CONCLUSION

in NT1 patients the abnormal connectivity between the hypothalamus and brain regions involved in memory consolidation during sleep, such as the hippocampus, may be linked to the loss of orexin containing neurons in the dorsolateral hypothalamus. Moreover, also functional connectivity of the amygdala seems to be influenced by the loss of orexin-containing neurons. Therefore, we can hypothesize that dysfunctional interactions between regions subserving the maintenance of arousal, memory and emotional processing may contribute to the main symptom of narcolepsy.

Treatment and care delivery in pediatric narcolepsy: a survey of parents, youth, and sleep physicians

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To describe the most commonly used treatments in pediatric narcolepsy and their perceived effectiveness, as well as to elicit key stakeholder perspectives on the most optimal manner in which care ought to be delivered to youth with narcolepsy.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of youth with narcolepsy, parents, and sleep physicians.

RESULTS

Complete survey results were available for 35 youth with narcolepsy, 116 parents, and 30 sleep physicians. Overall there was general agreement among family and physicians regarding most effective treatments, including both pharmacologic (stimulants, sodium oxybate, and modafinil/armodafinil) and nonpharmacologic (sleep schedule, exercise, diet) approaches. There was a stronger interested in cannabidiol oil (CBD) from families compared to physicians. Both families and physicians also endorsed a need for multispecialty care, ideally delivered in a same day setting and including specialists in mental health, social work, and nutrition. Quality measures were felt to be important but are not currently tracked by most sleep physicians. Qualitative responses highlight the value families place on providers who listen well and remain open-minded.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest strong support by key stakeholders for an interdisciplinary approach to care for youth with narcolepsy.

Perceived challenges in pediatric narcolepsy: a survey of parents, youth, and sleep physicians

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To clarify the most common and problematic symptoms, psychosocial challenges, and comorbidities among youth with narcolepsy based on input from key stakeholders.

METHODS

A nationwide cross-sectional survey of youth with narcolepsy, parents, and sleep physicians.

RESULTS

Overall, 116 parents, 35 youth, and 30 providers completed the entire survey. Symptoms that were rated as most common and problematic by both parents and youth were (in descending order) as follows: daytime sleepiness, disturbed nighttime sleep, mood challenges, cataplexy, sleep-related hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. Most of the 18 queried psychosocial concerns were identified as substantial challenges by both adults and youth, including difficulty focusing and memory, school, worry and anxiety, diet and nutrition, lack of motivation, mood problems, and relationship problems. In contrast, while physicians did recognize some of these challenges, they rated medication side effects and driver's license issues as relatively greater challenges.

CONCLUSIONS

These data highlight the high prevalence of psychosocial challenges, discordance between physician and family ratings of challenges, and a high rate of medical comorbidities in youth with narcolepsy and support the application of a biopsychosocial framework in the assessment and treatment of pediatric narcolepsy.

The Nexus Narcolepsy Registry: methodology, study population characteristics, and patterns and predictors of narcolepsy diagnosis

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND

The real-world experience of people with narcolepsy is not well understood.

PATIENTS/METHODS

The Nexus Narcolepsy Registry (NCT02769780) is a longitudinal, web-based patient registry of self-reported data from adults with physician-diagnosed narcolepsy. Surveys were electronically distributed every 6 months; the current analysis reports registry population demographics, narcolepsy diagnosis journey, and predictors of diagnostic delays.

RESULTS

The registry population included in this analysis (N = 1024) was predominantly female (85%) and White (92%), with a mean age of 37.7 years. Most participants had education/training beyond high school (93%). Mean (median) reported ages at narcolepsy symptom onset, first consultation for symptoms, and narcolepsy diagnosis were 18.1 (16), 26.4 (24), and 30.1 (28) years, respectively. A majority (59%) of participants reported ≥1 misdiagnosis, and 29% reported consulting ≥5 physicians before narcolepsy diagnosis. More than half (56%) of participants' first consultations for narcolepsy symptoms were with a general practitioner, whereas the diagnosing clinician was usually a sleep specialist (64%) or neurologist (27%). Pediatric symptom onset was associated with a longer mean interval to first consultation than adult symptom onset (10.7 and 4.6 years, respectively; P < 0.001) and a longer mean interval between first consultation and diagnosis (4.5 and 2.2 years, respectively; P < 0.001). Overall, mean (95% CI) time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 11.8 (11.1-12.5) years.

CONCLUSIONS

The Nexus Narcolepsy Registry data indicate that onset of narcolepsy symptoms frequently occurs in childhood or adolescence. In many individuals, the diagnostic process is long and involves multiple physicians and frequent misdiagnosis.

Effect of treatment on cognitive and attention problems in children with narcolepsy type 1

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To ascertain the presence of cognitive and attention problems in treatment naïve children with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) and to explore whether children recently diagnosed with NT1 improve with respect to cognition and attention problems 1 year after regular treatment for NT1.

METHODS

A total of 15 treatment naïve children (7-15 years) with recently diagnosed NT1 were recruited from three sleep medicine centers in the Netherlands. The control group consisted of 15 healthy children, being frequency matched on age and gender. Both groups were investigated at baseline to examine intelligence profile (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children [WISC] III), attention problems, and processing speed (Bourdon Vos and sustained attention to respond task [SART]). These tests were repeated in children with NT1 1 year after regular (behavioral and medication) treatment for NT1.

RESULTS

Children with NT1 scored significantly lower on the verbal scale and processing speed subscale of the WISC III, showed more fluctuations in reaction time of the Bourdon Vos and made more mistakes during the SART than the healthy control group at baseline. Children with NT1 significantly improved on total IQ score, and on the WISC indices processing speed, and perceptual organization 1 year after treatment. At follow-up, test scores of treated children were largely comparable to those of the control group at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with NT1 show improvement in several cognitive domains 1 year after start of treatment. Our findings stress the need for early detection and treatment of narcolepsy in childhood.

Two sides of a coin: differential response to COVID-19 distancing measures in children with narcolepsy

NONE

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological sleep disorder, debuting before age 15 years in one-third of patients. Narcolepsy has a negative influence on quality of life, with daily functioning being affected by concomitant cognitive, behavioral, and social problems. In December 2019, a new coronavirus emerged worldwide, causing the severe respiratory disease COVID-19. In the Netherlands, a partial lockdown was implemented that included the closure of schools. Here we present 3 illustrative case reports that teach important lessons for the treatment of pediatric narcolepsy. We observed significant consequences of the partial lockdown measures on daytime functioning, well-being, and school performance, both negative and positive. The consequences of the lockdown led to valuable insights for further treatment, substantiating the importance of personalizing education. Involvement of specialized student counselors, flexibility in the way that education is delivered, and enhancement of environmental factors could help in guiding young patients with narcolepsy through challenges at school.

Case Report: Burden of Illness in Narcolepsy Type 1: Hikikomori in a Teenage Girl

Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) deeply impacts on quality of life, especially during adolescence, with NT1 children and adolescents that frequently report difficulties in integration with peers and decreased participation in after-school activities. Here we describe the case of NT1 teenager girl presenting with severe physical and social withdrawal, fulfilling the proposed diagnostic criteria for hikikomori, together with the classic NT1 symptoms. Social withdrawal is an overlooked phenomenon among NT1 children and adolescents that, if present, require a multidisciplinary approach and personalized interventions, but patients can benefit from NT1 pharmacological treatment.