Kleine-Levin Syndrome / Disease

Diseases & Conditions

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Kleine-Levin Syndrome

Synonyms of Kleine-Levin Syndrome

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

Disorder Subdivisions

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.

Organizations related to Kleine-Levin Syndrome

American Sleep Disorders Association
1610 14th Street NW
Rochester MN 55901
Phone #: 507-287-6006
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: N/A
Kleine-Levin Syndrome Foundation
PO Box 5382
San Jose CA 95150-5382
Phone #: 408-265-1099
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.klsfoundation.org
MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay WI 54301-1243
Phone #: 920-336-5333
800 #: 877-336-5333
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
NIH/National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Blvd
Rockville MD 20892-9663
Phone #: 301-443-4513
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
31 Center Drive
Bethesda MD 20892-2540
Phone #: 301-496-5751
800 #: 800-352-9424
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
National Mental Health Association
2001 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria VA 22311
Phone #: 703-684-7722
800 #: 800-969-6642
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.nmha.org
National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse
1211 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia PA 19107-6312
Phone #: 215-751-1810
800 #: 800-553-4539
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.mhselfhelp.org
National Sleep Foundation
1522 K Street
Washington D.C. 20005
Phone #: 202-347-3471
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.sleepfoundation.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