Disease Information for Kleine-Levin syndrome

A condition characterized by recurrent hypersomnia and hyperphagia and marked by such symptoms as mental confusion, excessive sleep requirements, restlessness, and hallucinations; Kleine Levin Syndrome; Familial Hibernation Syndrome ; Kleine-Levin Hibernation; Syndrome; Periodic Somnolence and Morbid Hunger; Kleine-Levin syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by the need for excessive amounts of sleep (hypersomnolence), (i.e., up to 20 hours a day); excessive food intake (compulsive hyperphagia); and an abnormally uninhibited sexual drive. The disorder primarily affects adolescent males. When awake, affected individuals may exhibit irritability, lack of energy (lethargy), and/or lack of emotions (apathy); They may also appear confused (disoriented) and experience hallucinations; Symptoms of Kleine-Levin Syndrome are cyclical; An affected individual may go for weeks or months without experiencing symptoms; When present, symptoms may persist for days to weeks; In some cases, the symptoms associated with Kleine-Levin syndrome eventually disappear with advancing age; However, episodes may recur later during life;

The exact cause of Kleine-Levin syndrome is not known. However, researchers believe that in some cases, the disorder may be inherited as an autosomal dominant genetic trait; It is thought that symptoms of Kleine-Levin syndrome may be related to malfunction of the portion of the brain that helps to regulate functions such as sleep, appetite, and body temperature (hypothalamus); (NORD rare disease org 2005) ---------------------------------------------

Kleine-Levin syndrome

Also known as:

Critchley"s syndrome

Kleine-Levin-Critchley syndrome

Synonyms:

Hypersomnia periodica, hibernation syndrome, hypersomnia-bulmia syndrome, hypersomnia-megaphagia syndrome, periodic hypersomnia-megaphagia syndrome, periodic somnolence, periodic somnolence and morbid hunger syndrome.

Associated persons:

MacDonald Critchley

Willi Kleine

Max Levin

Description:

A strange condition of unknown aetiology which almost exclusively affects young males aged 15-25 years. Characterized by periods lasting from days to weeks of attacks of somnolence accompanied by excessive food intake, and various mental symptoms. Common mental symptoms are confusion, irritability, restlessness, euphoria, hallucinations, delusions, and schizophreniform states. Attacks may occur every 3 to 6 months and last from 2 to 3 days. Between attacks the patients recover completely and the sleep periods usually disappear in adult age. This syndrome may easily be confused for other neurological, metabolical or psychiatric disease

[whonamedit.com 2005]

(Edit)