Narcolepsy following COVID‐19: A case report and review of potential mechanisms

Abstract

Key Clinical Message The immune activation in COVID‐19 may trigger narcolepsy in vulnerable patients. We suggest clinicians carefully evaluate patients with post‐COVID fatigue and hypersomnia for primary sleep disorders, specifically narcolepsy. Abstract The patient is a 33‐year‐old Iranian woman without a significant past medical history with the full range of narcolepsy symptoms that started within 2 weeks after her recovery from COVID‐19. Sleep studies revealed increased sleep latency and three sleep‐onset rapid eye movement events, compatible with a narcolepsy‐cataplexy diagnosis.

Keywords

• autoimmune
• COVID‐19
• hypersomnia
• narcolepsy
• sleep disorders