Elevation of Plasma Cytokines in Disorders of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness: Role of Sleep Disturbance and Obesity

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and fatigue are frequent symptoms in the general population and the chief complaint of the majority of patients at Sleep Disorders Centers. There is evidence that the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and IL-6 are involved in physiological sleep regulation and that their administration to humans is associated with sleepiness and fatigue. To explore...