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Case Reports
. 2022 Oct 1;18(10):2503-2506.
doi: 10.5664/jcsm.10134.

Pfizer/BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine as a potential trigger for the development of narcolepsy: a case report

Ala Mahamid  1 , Robyn Jacob Bornstein  2 , Hagay Amir  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Pfizer/BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine as a potential trigger for the development of narcolepsy: a case report

Ala Mahamid et al. J Clin Sleep Med. .

Abstract

Narcolepsy is a rare condition in Israel. Currently, the incidence of narcolepsy following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in Israel is unknown. We are reporting a case report of a 51-year-old woman of Ashkenazi Jewish descent who was evaluated for complaints of excessive daytime sleepiness and relative functional decline that immediately followed receipt of the Pfizer/BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Evaluation of patient-reported data with polysomnography and multiple sleep latency test was consistent with narcolepsy with cataplexy, meeting the criteria for a diagnosis of type 1 narcolepsy. Further investigation included human leukocyte antigen testing. Prior studies have demonstrated genetic, immunological, and environmental factors associated with narcolepsy following other vaccinations. This case is a valuable contribution to the literature as there are no prior reports of type 1 narcolepsy following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in the State of Israel.

Citation: Mahamid A, Bornstein RJ, Amir H. Pfizer/BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine as a potential trigger for the development of narcolepsy: a case report. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(10):2503-2506.

Keywords: Ashkenazi Jewish; Israel; SARS-CoV-2; cataplexy; narcolepsy; trigger; type 1 narcolepsy; vaccination.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors have seen and approved this manuscript. Work for this study was performed at the Loewenstein Rehabilitation Center. The opinions and assertions in this case report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Clalit, The Ministry of Health, or any other government agency in the State of Israel. The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Comment in

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