Kleine Levin syndrome
Alternate names[edit | edit source]
Kleine-Levin hibernation syndrome; Familial Kleine-Levin syndrome; Familial hibernation syndrome
Definition[edit | edit source]
Kleine Levin syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive sleep (hypersomnia) along with cognitive and behavioral changes.
Cause[edit | edit source]
- The underlying cause of this condition is unknown.
- Symptoms may be related to malfunction of the hypothalamus and thalamus, parts of the brain that govern appetite and sleep.
Signs and symptoms[edit | edit source]
- It is characterized by recurring but reversible periods of excessive sleep (up to 20 hours per day).
- Symptoms occur as "episodes," typically lasting a few days to a few weeks.
- Episode onset is often abrupt, and may be associated with flu-like symptoms.
- Excessive food intake, irritability, childishness, disorientation, hallucinations, and an abnormally uninhibited sex drive may be observed during episodes.
- Mood can be depressed as a consequence, but not a cause, of the disorder.
- Affected individuals are completely normal between episodes, although they may not be able to remember afterwards everything that happened during the episode.
- It may be weeks or more before symptoms reappear.
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
- KLS can be diagnosed when there is confusion, apathy, or derealization in addition to frequent bouts of extreme tiredness and prolonged sleep.
- The earliest it can be diagnosed is the second episode, this is not common.
- The condition is generally treated as a diagnosis of exclusion.
- Because KLS is rare, other conditions with similar symptoms are usually considered first.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
- There is no definitive treatment for Kleine-Levin syndrome and watchful waiting at home, rather than pharmacotherapy, is most often advised.
- Stimulant pills, including amphetamines, methylphenidate, and modafinil, are used to treat sleepiness but may increase irritability and will not improve cognitive abnormalities.
- Because of similarities between Kleine-Levin syndrome and certain mood disorders, lithium and carbamazepine may be prescribed and, in some cases, have been shown to prevent further episodes.
- This disorder should be differentiated from cyclic re-occurrence of sleepiness during the premenstrual period in teen-aged girls, which may be controlled with birth control pills.
- It also should be differentiated from encephalopathy, recurrent depression, or psychosis.
NIH genetic and rare disease info[edit source]
Kleine Levin syndrome is a rare disease.
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