Neurology®
The most widely read and highly cited peer-reviewed Neurology journal
Quick Search
Advanced Search
This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Correspondence:
Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when Correspondence are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Lodi, R.
Right arrow Articles by Plazzi, G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Lodi, R.
Right arrow Articles by Plazzi, G.
Related Collections
Right arrow MRS
Right arrow Narcolepsy
NEUROLOGY 2004;63:1513-1515
© 2004 American Academy of Neurology
Brief Communications

In vivo evidence of neuronal loss in the hypothalamus of narcoleptic patients

R. Lodi, MD, C. Tonon, MD, L. Vignatelli, MD, S. Iotti, PhD, P. Montagna, MD, B. Barbiroli, MD and G. Plazzi, MD

From the Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Biotecnologia Applicata "D. Campanacci" (Drs. Lodi, Tonon, Iotti, and Barbiroli) and Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche (Drs. Vignatelli, Montagna, and Plazzi), Universita’ di Bologna, Italy.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Raffaele Lodi, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, e Biotecnologia Applicata "D. Campanacci," Universita’ di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy; e-mail: raffaele.lodi{at}unibo.it

A dysfunction of the orexin (hypocretin) system in the hypothalamus has recently been linked to the pathogenesis of narcolepsy. The authors used in vivo proton MR spectroscopy to assess the N-acetylaspartate (NAA) content in the hypothalamus of narcoleptic patients. Hypothalamic NAA/creatine-phosphocreatine was reduced in narcoleptic patients compared with control subjects (p < 0.01). Hypothalamic neuronal loss/damage is a central pathogenetic feature in narcolepsy.

Received March 29, 2004. Accepted in final form May 28, 2004.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 BrainHome page
S. Schwartz, A. Ponz, R. Poryazova, E. Werth, P. Boesiger, R. Khatami, and C. L. Bassetti
Abnormal activity in hypothalamus and amygdala during humour processing in human narcolepsy with cataplexy
Brain, February 1, 2008; 131(2): 514 - 522.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ChestHome page
T. J. Young and M. H. Silber
Hypersomnias of central origin.
Chest, September 1, 2006; 130(3): 913 - 920.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 NeurologyHome page
G. Plazzi, A. Parmeggiani, E. Mignot, L. Lin, M. C. Scano, A. Posar, F. Bernardi, R. Lodi, C. Tonon, B. Barbiroli, et al.
Narcolepsy-cataplexy associated with precocious puberty
Neurology, May 23, 2006; 66(10): 1577 - 1579.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurol. Neurosurg. PsychiatryHome page
S-J Wang, J-F Lirng, J-L Fuh, and J-J Chen
Reduction in hypothalamic 1H-MRS metabolite ratios in patients with cluster headache
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, May 1, 2006; 77(5): 622 - 625.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 NeurologyHome page
R. Lodi, G. Pierangeli, C. Tonon, S. Cevoli, C. Testa, G. Bivona, F. Magnifico, P. Cortelli, P. Montagna, and B. Barbiroli
Study of hypothalamic metabolism in cluster headache by proton MR spectroscopy
Neurology, April 25, 2006; 66(8): 1264 - 1266.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]