The month-of-birth pattern in narcolepsy is moderated by cataplexy severity and may be independent of HLA-DQB1*0602.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

A March peak and a September trough in the birth pattern of narcolepsy patients with clear-cut cataplexy was recently reported. The objectives of the present study were to determine whether the month-of-birth pattern would (a) vary with the presence and severity of cataplexy and (b) differ for patients positive and negative for HLA-DQB1*0602.

DESIGN:

Cross-sectional survey with data obtained from the clinical trials assessing the safety and efficacy of modafinil in the treatment of narcolepsy.

SETTING:

Sleep clinics throughout the United States.

PATIENTS:

A group of 530 narcolepsy patients diagnosed based on the International Classification of Sleep Disorders using clinical histories, nocturnal polysomnography, and Multiple Sleep Latency Tests.

INTERVENTIONS:

NA.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS:

A surplus of March births and a fall-off in September births was found in narcolepsy relative to the general population. This finding was only observed when cataplexy was moderate or severe. The month-of-birth pattern was similar for HLA-DQB1*0602 positive and negative patients. A March birth and HLA-DQB1*0602 positivity were independent risk factors in a logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS:

Environmental events during development may influence narcolepsy severity or the likelihood of developing the disease.

• Authors: Dante Picchioni, Emmanuel J Mignot, John R Harsh
• Journal: Sleep (Sleep) Vol. 27 Issue 8 Pg. 1471-5 (Dec 15 2004) ISSN: 0161-8105 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15683136 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Benzhydryl Compounds
• Central Nervous System Stimulants
• HLA-DQ Antigens
• HLA-DQ beta-Chains
• HLA-DQB1 antigen
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Modafinil

Topics

• Adult
• Age of Onset
• Aged
• Benzhydryl Compounds (therapeutic use)
• Brain (metabolism)
• Cataplexy (drug therapy, epidemiology, genetics)
• Central Nervous System Stimulants (therapeutic use)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Environment
• Female
• Genotype
• HLA-DQ Antigens (genetics)
• HLA-DQ beta-Chains
• Humans
• Incidence
• Male
• Mass Screening (methods)
• Membrane Glycoproteins (genetics)
• Modafinil
• Narcolepsy (drug therapy, epidemiology, genetics)
• Polysomnography
• Seasons
• Severity of Illness Index
• Sleep, REM (physiology)
• United States (epidemiology)