Mauro Manconi, Gert J Lammers, Yves Dauvilliers, Karel Sonka, Joan Santamaria, Paul Reading, Thomas Pollmächer, Markku Partinen, Geert Mayer, Claudio L A Bassetti, Ramin Khatami, Poul Jennum, Leja Dolenc-Groselj, Elisa Baldin, Michel Lecendreux, Giuseppe Plazzi, Luca Vignatelli, Ulf Kallweit
Journal: Journal of sleep research 2021;30(6):e13387
PMID: 34173288
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Narcolepsy is an uncommon hypothalamic disorder of presumed autoimmune origin that usually requires lifelong treatment. This paper aims to provide evidence-based guidelines for the management of narcolepsy in both adults and children.
METHODS
The European Academy of Neurology (EAN), European Sleep Research Society (ESRS), and European Narcolepsy Network (EU-NN) nominated a task force of 18 narcolepsy specialists. According to the EAN recommendations, 10 relevant clinical questions were formulated in PICO format. Following a systematic review of the literature (performed in Fall 2018 and updated in July 2020) recommendations were developed according to the GRADE approach.
RESULTS
A total of 10,247 references were evaluated, 308 studies were assessed and 155 finally included. The main recommendations can be summarized as follows: (i) excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in adults-scheduled naps, modafinil, pitolisant, sodium oxybate (SXB), solriamfetol (all strong); methylphenidate, amphetamine derivatives (both weak); (ii) cataplexy in adults-SXB, venlafaxine, clomipramine (all strong) and pitolisant (weak); (iii) EDS in children-scheduled naps, SXB (both strong), modafinil, methylphenidate, pitolisant, amphetamine derivatives (all weak); (iv) cataplexy in children-SXB (strong), antidepressants (weak). Treatment choices should be tailored to each patient's symptoms, comorbidities, tolerance and risk of potential drug interactions.
CONCLUSION
The management of narcolepsy involves non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches with an increasing number of symptomatic treatment options for adults and children that have been studied in some detail.
© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Sleep Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Academy of Neurology and European Sleep Research Society.
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