Cataplexy


Disease modifying treatment available:
Time critical diagnosis and management:
Lateralising:


Definition

Cataplexy describes brief episodes of loss of muscle tone with strong emotion.




Aetiology

None

Disorder Clinical features Associated features Investigations Disease modifying treatment available Time critical
Narcolepsy Hypnopompic hallucinations
Hypnagogic hallucinations
Sleep paralysis
Rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder
Niemann-Pick type C
Prader-Willi syndrome



Associated Disorders





Clinical features


Mild episodes can cause transient ptosis, head drop and slurred speech. Episodes are precipitated by strong emotions and last for seconds to minutes. Tone may return intermittently giving the impression of jerking. More severe episodes can result in collapse.

Cataplexy may cause the following:





Investigations


None

None


Laboratory Investigation Result

Treatment


None





Research


Open questions

None