The effects of sodium oxybate on core body and skin temperature regulation in narcolepsy

• Published in: Journal of sleep research 2015-10, Vol.24 (5), p.566-575
• Main Authors: Heide, Astrid, Donjacour, Claire E. H. M., Pijl, Hanno, Reijntjes, Robert H. A. M., Overeem, Sebastiaan, Lammers, Gert J., Van Someren, Eus J. W., Fronczek, Rolf
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Body Temperature Regulation - drug effects; Case-Control Studies; constant routine protocol; core body temperature; distal–proximal temperature gradient; Drug Administration Schedule; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Narcolepsy - drug therapy; Narcolepsy - physiopathology; Orexins - deficiency; Skin Temperature - drug effects; Sleep - drug effects; Sleep - physiology; sleep disorder; sleep onset; slow‐wave sleep; Sodium Oxybate - administration & dosage; Sodium Oxybate - pharmacology; Sodium Oxybate - therapeutic use; Time Factors; Wakefulness - drug effects; Wakefulness - physiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0962-1105; 1365-2869
• DOI: 10.1111/jsr.12303

Summary Patients suffering from narcolepsy type 1 show altered skin temperatures, resembling the profile that is related to sleep onset in healthy controls. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of sodium oxybate, a widely used drug to treat narcolepsy, on the 24‐h profiles of temperature and sleep‐wakefulness in patients with narcolepsy and controls. Eight hypocretin‐deficient male narcolepsy type 1 patients and eight healthy matched controls underwent temperature measurement of core body and proximal and distal skin twice, and the sleep–wake state for 24 h. After the baseline assessment, 2 × 3 g of sodium oxybate was administered for 5 nights, immediately followed by the second assessment. At baseline, daytime core body temperature and proximal skin temperature were significantly lower in patients with narcolepsy (core: 36.8 ± 0.05 °C versus 37.0 ± 0.05 °C, F = 8.31, P = 0.01; proximal: 33.4 ± 0.26 °C versus 34.3 ± 0.26 °C, F = 5.66, P = 0.03). In patients, sodium oxybate administration increased proximal skin temperature during the day (F = 6.46, P = 0.04) to a level similar as in controls, but did not affect core body temperature, distal temperature or distal–proximal temperature gradient. Sodium oxybate administration normalised the predictive value of distal skin temperature and distal–proximal temperature gradient for the onset of daytime naps (P