Conventional autoantibodies against brain antigens are not routinely detectable in serum and CSF of narcolepsy type 1 and 2 patients

Abstract Narcolepsy with cataplexy (NT1) is a chronic hypothalamic disorder with a presumed immune-mediated etiology leading to a loss of hypocretin neurons. Previous studies reported conflicting results in terms of presence of auto-antibodies involved in narcolepsy pathophysiology. A total of 86 patients with primary/idiopathic narcolepsy (74 NT1, 12 NT2) and 23 control patients with excessive daytime sleepiness due to other causes were tested for the presence of a wide range of anti-neuronal antibodies in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Anti-neuronal antibodies were rarely found in patients with narcolepsy (n=2) and in controls (n=1). Our results are in line with previous reports. We can therefore support the current evidence, that conventional anti-neuronal antibodies are not routinely detected during the workup of NT1 and other CDH patients.