Kleine Levin Syndrome

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What is Kleine Levin Syndrome ?  

A rare sleep disorder with persistent episodic hyperosmia [excessive daytime sleepiness] and cognitive or mood changes. The episodes of sleepiness occur for more than a week at a time, and the condition may last for more than a decade.


Cause(s) :  Possible causes are:
  • Circadian rhythm (sleep cycle) dysfunction
  • Disturbances in thalamus, temporal lobe and frontal lobe.
  • Dysfunction in the metabolism of serotonin and dopamine.
  • Multifocal, localized encephalopathy
Symptoms :  
  • Excessive tiredness and prolonged sleep (hyperosmia)
  • Excessive appetite (hyperphagia)
  • Hypersexuality
  • Overt sexual behaviours like exposing oneself, using obscene language, fondling genitalia and making unwanted sexual advances
  • Compulsive behaviours like body rocking, chewing lips, compulsive writing on walls, stripping down wallpaper, etc.
  • Delusions
  • Severe apathy and derealization [alteration in the perception of the external world so that it seems unreal]
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Some patients act childish during episodes
  • Communication and coordination skills are disturbed during episodes
  • Headaches
Diagnosis and Tests :  KLS is a diagnosis of exclusion, by eliminating certain symptoms and diseases.
  • Electroencephalography
  • MRI
  • CT
  • SPECT
Specialist to consult :  Neurology



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