Risk Factors for Narcolepsy

June 10, 2008 - 7:30am

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Risk Factors for Narcolepsy

A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.

Very little is known about the risk factors for ]]>narcolepsy]]>. Narcolepsy seems to run in some families; about 8%-30% of people with narcolepsy have another family member with the condition.

References:

Chen L, Fong SY, Lam CW, et al. The familial risk and HLA susceptibility among narcolepsy patients in Hong Kong, Chinese. Sleep. 2007;30:851-858.

Goetz CG, Pappert EJ. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 1999.

Narcolepsy. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/nar/nar_what.html. Updated November 2008. Accessed April 7, 2009.

Last reviewed February 2009 by ]]> Rimas Lukas, MD]]>

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.