The Kleine-Levin syndrome
Visscher, F.; Smit, L.M.; Smith, F.; Boer, F.; Njiokiktjien, C.
Tijdschrift Voor Kindergeneeskunde 57(6): 218-221
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0376-7442 PMID: 2617509 Document Number: 338411
Two boys, aged 12 and 13 years, showed relapsing periods of somnolence and excessive eating, starting after a viral illness. One of them also showed periodic disturbance of sexual impulse control. The symptomatic periods were followed by symptom-free intervals in a highly characteristic pattern. This gave the clue to the diagnosis Kleine-Levin syndrome. The cause of this syndrome is unknown, in some cases a relationship between infectious disease or traumatic brain damage has been postulated. A dysfunction of the hypothalamus and associated structures is suspected. The syndrome has a rather favourable prognosis. The symptoms can be relieved by amphetamines, methylphenidate and probably also by lithium carbonate.