A case of primary hypersomnia

Abstract

Primary hypersomnia (PH) is a disorder of presumed central nervous system etiology that is associated with a normal or prolonged major sleep episode and excessive sleepiness consisting of prolonged (one or two hour) episodes of non-rapid eye movement sleep. It has a similar presentation to narcolepsy, but is not generally associated with cataplexy or sleep-onset rapid eye movement. Although PH is a chronic disorder, fluctuations and spontaneous remissions are known to occur. Treatment with stimulants is beneficial in most patients. We present the case of a 32-year-old Caucasian woman with the classical features of PH. Her condition has progressed over the years and she sleeps for days on end or until aroused. She has been treated with multiple stimulants, with limited success. This case highlights the clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria and treatment modalities of this rare condition.

Keywords

• HLA-Cw 2
• hypersomnia
• hypocretin-1
• narcolepsy