DR2-positive monozygotic twins discordant for narcolepsy

Narcolepsy runs in families, and recent research has revealed the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DR2 to be a genetic marker closely associated with the disease. But, as indicated by family studies, other factors contribute to the pathogenesis of narcolepsy. The investigation of monozygotic twins is t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sleep (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 1990-08, Vol.13 (4), p.336-343
Main Authors: POLLMAÊCHER, T, SCHULZ, H, GEISLER, P, KISS, E, ALBERT, E. D, SCHWARZFISCHER, F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activity levels. Psychomotricity
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Diseases in Twins - diagnosis
Diseases in Twins - genetics
Electroencephalography
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
HLA-DR2 Antigen - genetics
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Narcolepsy - diagnosis
Narcolepsy - genetics
Pedigree
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Reaction Time - genetics
Sleep Stages - genetics
Sleep, REM - genetics
Vigilance. Attention. Sleep
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Narcolepsy runs in families, and recent research has revealed the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DR2 to be a genetic marker closely associated with the disease. But, as indicated by family studies, other factors contribute to the pathogenesis of narcolepsy. The investigation of monozygotic twins is the most specific research tool for distinguishing between a multigenetic and a multifactorial pathogenetic model. We present clinical and sleep polygraphic data from two pairs of monozygotic twins, and in addition, from some of their first-degree relatives. In both pairs only one twin suffered from the clinical symptoms of narcolepsy/cataplexy. Only in these subjects did night sleep recordings and a multiple sleep latency test reveal both multiple sleep onset rapid-eye-movement periods (SOREMPs) and short mean sleep onset latencies. However, in two of the asymptomatic, HLA DR2+ relatives, short mean sleep onset latencies during the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) were observed, and one, HLA DR2- relative showed REM sleep two times during the MSLT. Our results strongly favor a multifactorial pathogenetic model for narcolepsy.
ISSN:0161-8105
1550-9109
DOI:10.1093/sleep/13.4.336