Print friendly version
Kleine Levin syndrome
Other Names for this Disease
- Familial hibernation syndrome
- Familial Kleine-Levin syndrome
- Kleine-Levin hibernation syndrome
See Disclaimer regarding information on this site. Some links on this page may take you to organizations outside of the National Institutes of Health.
Overview
Kleine Levin syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by episodes of excessive sleep. Affected individuals may sleep for up to 20 hours per day during an episode. These episodes usually last for a few days to a few weeks. An episode may start abruptly and is sometimes associated with flu-like symptoms. During an episode, people with Kleine Levin syndrome can also display abnormal behavior, such as excessive food intake, irritability, childishness, disorientation, hallucinations, and an abnormally uninhibited sex drive. Affected individuals do not experience any of these features between episodes, and they may not be able to remember everything that happened during an episode. The time between episodes varies among individuals with this condition. Kleine Levin syndrome primarily affects adolescent males, but it also affects females. It may be caused by abnormal function of the hypothalamus and thalamus, parts of the brain that control appetite and sleep. Episodes usually decrease in frequency and intensity after about eight to 12 years.[1]
References
- NINDS Kleine-Levin Syndrome Information Page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/kleine_levin/kleine_levin.htm. Accessed March 2, 2010.
Your Questions Answered
by the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center1 question(s) from the public on Kleine Levin syndrome have been answered. See questions and answers. You can also submit a new question.
On this page
General Information
- eMedicine has two articles that discuss this topic from the perspective of Psychiatry and Pediatrics. You may need to register to view the information online, but registration is free. Click on the links above to view the articles from this medical reference Web site.
- The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) collects and disseminates research information related to neurological disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
- The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is a federation of more than 130 nonprofit voluntary health organizations serving people with rare disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
- Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge. Click on the link to read information on this topic.
- PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Kleine Levin syndrome. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
- The The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database contains genetics resources that discuss Kleine Levin syndrome. Click on the link to go to OMIM and review these resources.