Kleine-Levin Syndrome

Content provided by National Organization for Rare Disorders

Important

It is possible that the main title of the report Kleine-Levin Syndrome is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

• Kleine-Levin Hibernation Syndrome
• Familial Hibernation Syndrome
• Periodic Somnolence and Morbid Hunger

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

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 behavioral changes such as 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, hereditary factors may cause some individuals to have a genetic predisposition to developing the disorder. 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). Some researchers speculate that Kleine-Levin syndrome may be an autoimmune disorder.

Resources

National Sleep Foundation

1522 K Street

Suite 500

Washington, D.C. 20005

Tel: (202)347-3471

Fax: (202)347-3472

Email: nsf@sleepfoundation.org

Internet: http://www.sleepfoundation.org



American Sleep Disorders Association

1610 14th Street NW

Suite 300

Rochester, MN 55901

Tel: (507)287-6006

Fax: (507)287-6008

Email: asda@millcomm.com



National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse

1211 Chestnut Street

Suite 1207

Philadelphia, PA 19107-6312

USA

Tel: 2127511810

Fax: 2156366312

Tel: 8005534539

Email: info@mhselfhelp.org

Internet: http://www.mhselfhelp.org



National Mental Health Association

2001 North Beauregard Street

12th Floor

Alexandria, VA 22311

USA

Tel: 7036847722

Fax: 7036845968

Tel: 8009696642

TDD: 8004335959

Email: infoctr@nmha.org

Internet: http://www.nmha.org



NIH/National Institute of Mental Health

6001 Executive Blvd

Rm 8184, MSC 9663

Rockville, MD 20892-9663

Tel: (301)443-4513

Email: nimhinfo@nih.gov

Internet: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/



National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

31 Center Drive

8A07

Bethesda, MD 20892-2540

Tel: (301)496-5751

Fax: (301)402-2186

Tel: (800)352-9424

Email: braininfo@ninds.nih.gov

Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/



MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network

150 Custer Court

Green Bay, WI 54301-1243

USA

Tel: 9203365333

Fax: 9203390995

Tel: 8773365333

Email: mums@netnet.net

Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/



Kleine-Levin Syndrome Foundation

PO Box 5382

San Jose, CA 95150-5382

Tel: (408)265-1099

Fax: (408)269-2131

Email: facts@klsfoundation.org

Internet: http://www.klsfoundation.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  4/6/2007

Copyright  1996, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

Last updated:	April 06, 2007