Psychological status and serum uric acid levels in narcolepsy with type 1: A case-control study

Background: The relationship between uric acid and patients with type 1 (NT1) remains unclear. UA may contribute to the development of depression. Depression is also common in NT1. Our study aimed to evaluate serum levels of UA, creatinine, and UA/Cr ratio, and examine the association of serum UA levels with psychological status in NT1 patients.

Methods: This is a case-control study conducted on 48 patients diagnosed with NT1 and 40 healthy controls (HC). The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating (HAMD-17) was used as screening tools for depressive symptoms for patients with NT1. Serum UA, creatinine, and UA/Cr ratio were measured. In addition, the correction of UA status and scores of depressive scales was statistically analyzed.

Results: Approximately 70% of all subjects with NT1 had depression or depressive symptoms compared with the HC group, the serum UA levels and UA/Cr ratios were higher in patients with NT1 (p < 0.05). In addition, there was a negative correlation between UA levels and HAMD-17 scores in NT1 patients (r = -0.334; p = 0.020).

Conclusion: We found that serum UA levels were higher in patients with NT1, and the serum UA levels were negatively correlated with depressive symptom scores. Further well-designed prospective cohort studies are needed to determine the causality of the correlation and to further clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms of UA in NT1 patients.