Motor

Cataplexy

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Cataplexy

  • See Also
  1. Sleep Paralysis
  2. Narcolepsy
  • Epidemiology
  1. Possibly Hereditary
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Episodic loss of motor and Posture control
  2. Precipitated by laughter or strong emotion
  3. Unknown cause
  • Signs
  1. Sudden decrease or loss of voluntary Muscle tone following emotional trigger (e.g. laughing, surprise)
    1. Speech is affected
    2. Episode is transient
    3. No loss of consciousness
  2. Episodes are transient, lasting seconds to minutes
    1. Localized hypotonia (e.g. jaw drop, head nod, knee sag)
    2. Generalized hypotonia (full collapse onto floor)
  • Associated Conditions
  1. Narcolepsy (25-30% of Narcolepsy patients have Cataplexy)