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Advanced Neurology

CASE REPORT
The coexistence of narcolepsy and multiple

sclerosis: A case report

1
Jinglong Hu , Minkai Zhang , Linjie Yu , and Meijuan Zhang *
2
1
1
1 Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and The State Key Laboratory
of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu
Province, China
2 Department of Neurology, Fourth People’ Hospital of Zhenjiang, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China

Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the
central nervous system, characterized by myelin degeneration. Aside from general
symptoms such as visual impairment, muscle weakness, and sensory abnormalities,
sleep disorders are sometimes experienced by MS patients. Here, we report a rare
case of a 21-year-old young male patient presenting with both MS and narcolepsy.
Moreover, we also reviewed the potential pathophysiological mechanisms that linked
these two diseases, including the involvement of the immune system and neuronal
damage. This case report emphasized the significance of further research into the
relationship between MS and narcolepsy and provided a valuable theoretical basis
that MS might be a key cause of narcolepsy. In addition, therapeutic strategies for
MS, such as ofatumumab, might help alleviate narcolepsy.

*Corresponding author: Keywords: Multiple sclerosis; Narcolepsy; Sleep disorders
Meijuan Zhang
(juanzi1986126@163.com)
Citation: Hu J, Zhang M, Yu L,
et al., 2023, The coexistence of
narcolepsy and multiple sclerosis: 1. Background
A case report. Adv Neuro, 2(4):
1913. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system
https://doi.org/10.36922/an.1913 (CNS) mainly characterized by immune-mediated inflammation and multifocal
Received: September 25, 2023 demyelinating lesions in the brain and spinal cord, which can cause various neurological
symptoms, including visual impairment, muscle weakness, sensory abnormalities,
Accepted: November 28, 2023
[1]
coordination disorders, and cognitive impairment . Furthermore, approximately
Published Online: December 14, 20%–50% of MS patients present with sleep disorders, which can be attributed to
2023
multiple factors, such as nerve damage, pathophysiological processes, therapies, and
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s). mental health issues. Although sleep disorders are commonly disregarded by most
This is an Open-Access article
distributed under the terms of the clinicians, they have a significant impact on the overall health of patients as well as the
[2]
Creative Commons Attribution clinical course of MS . Narcolepsy is a globally recognized rare disease characterized by
License, permitting distribution, excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, and nocturnal sleep disorder. According to the
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is current classification, narcolepsy can be categorized, based on the presence of cataplexy,
properly cited. into type 1 (narcolepsy with cataplexy) and type 2 (narcolepsy without cataplexy). The
Publisher’s Note: AccScience etiology may be strongly linked to HINI influenza virus infection and the immune
Publishing remains neutral with response to the influenza vaccine. In addition, genetic factors and changes in neurological
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional function may also be associated with the pathogenesis of narcolepsy. Here, we report the
affiliations. case of a patient with MS and narcolepsy type 1, highlighting the complexity of MS

Volume 2 Issue 4 (2023) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/an.1913