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Narcolepsia - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Trastorno del sueño durante el día; Cataplejía

Definición:

Es un trastorno del sueño que causa somnolencia excesiva y ataques de sueño frecuentes durante el día.

Causas:

La narcolepsia es un trastorno neurológico, no una enfermedad mental, y no es causada por la ansiedad. La causa exacta se desconoce.

Los expertos creen que la narcolepsia es causada por la reducción en las cantidades de una proteína llamada hipocretina, la cual se produce en el cerebro. Lo que hace que el cerebro produzca menos cantidad de esta proteína no está claro.

La narcolepsia tiende a ser hereditaria.

Las afecciones que ocasionan insomnio, como una alteración de los horarios de trabajo, pueden empeorar la narcolepsia.

  • Reviewed last on: 9/2/2009
  • Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Departments of Anatomy Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Dauvilliers Y, Arnulf I, Mignot E. Narcolepsy with cataplexy. Lancet. 2007;369(9560):499-511.

Morgenthaler TI, Kapur VK, Brown T, Swick TJ, Alessi C, Aurora RN, et al. Practice parameters for the treatment of narcolepsy and other hypersomnias of central origin. Sleep. 2007;30(12):1705-1711.

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