Kleine-Levin Syndrome

Isabelle Arnulf

doi:10.1016/j.jsmc.2015.02.001

Kleine-Levin Syndrome

Sleep Med Clin. 2015 Jun;10(2):151-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2015.02.001.

Author

Isabelle Arnulf¹

Affiliation

¹ Sleep Disorder Unit, National Reference Center for Narcolepsy, Idiopathic Hypersomnia and Kleine Levin syndrome, Inserm U975, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital (APHP), Paris 6 University, Paris, France. Electronic address: isabelle.arnufl@psl.aphp.fr.

PMID: 26055863
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2015.02.001

Abstract

Kleine-Levin syndrome is a rare recurrent encephalopathy primarily affecting teenagers, characterized by relapsing-remitting episodes of hypersomnia along with cognitive, psychiatric and behavioral disturbances. During episodes, patients suddenly present hypersomnia (with sleep lasting 15-21 h/d), cognitive impairment (major apathy, confusion, slowness, amnesia), and a specific feeling of derealization (dreamy state, altered perception). Less frequently, they may also experience hyperphagia (66%), hypersexuality (53%, principally men), depressed mood (53%, principally women), anxiety, hallucinations, and acute brief psychosis (33%). Brain functional imaging is often abnormal. Stimulants are poorly beneficial during episodes, whereas lithium and valproate help reducing the episodes frequency and duration.

Keywords: Derealization; Hyperphagia; Klein-Levin syndrome; Recurrent hypersomnia.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Kleine-Levin Syndrome* / diagnosis
Kleine-Levin Syndrome* / physiopathology
Kleine-Levin Syndrome* / psychology
Kleine-Levin Syndrome* / therapy