0000000000811277
AUTHOR
Geert Mayer
Levels of GHB in hair after regular application.
Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a central nervous system depressant that is an approved drug for the treatment of narcolepsy with cataplexy and other syndromes. Due to its dose dependent stimulating, relaxing or sedative effects, illicit abuses include recreational use by young people and cases of drug-facilitated crime (DFC). Since GHB is also produced endogenously, for forensic questions, it is important to be able to differentiate between endogenous GHB and elevated levels due to additional intake. In this study, we measured GHB concentrations in hair of patients with narcolepsy receiving daily GHB treatment. The results were compared to endogenous concentrations and concentrations after …
Incidence of Narcolepsy in Germany
Study objectives Following the 2009 pandemic, reports of an association between an AS03 adjuvanted H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine and narcolepsy were published. Besides determining background incidence rates for narcolepsy in Germany this study aimed at investigating whether there was a change in incidence rates of narcolepsy between the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and the post-pandemic period on the population level. Design Retrospective epidemiological study on the incidence of narcolepsy with additional capture-recapture analysis. Setting German sleep centers. Patients or participants Eligible were patients with an initial diagnosis of narcolepsy (ICD10 Code G47.4) within the period from Ja…