Kleine Levin syndrome: review of diagnosed cases of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Authors

  • Stella Maris Valiensi Neuróloga. Sección de Medicina del sueño. Neurología. Hospital Italiano
  • Arturo Garay Neurólogo. Sección Medicina del sueño. Servicio de Neurología. CEMIC. Buenos Aires
  • Claudio Podestá Neurólogo. Servicio de Medicina del sueño. Neurología. FLENI. Buenos Aires
  • María Elena Mazzola Neuróloga infantil. Servicio de Medicina del sueño. Neurología. FLENI. Buenos Aires
  • María Carolina Paleka Residente de Neurología. Servicio de Neurología. Hospital de Clínicas. Buenos Aires
  • Oscar Adolfo Martínez Neurólogo. Servicio de Neurología. Hospital Británico. Buenos Aires

Keywords:

Kleine-Levin syndrome, Sleep disorder, Case report

Abstract

Kleine-Levin syndrome is an uncommon disorder with recurrent episodes of hypersomnia, and behavioral abnormalities such as binge-eating and hypersexuality. Our aims were to report cases of the Kleine-Levin syndrome diagnosed in Buenos Aires, Argentina and to characterize the clinical presentation of these patients. We evaluated patients with Kleine-Levin syndrome according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders. Psychiatric, physical and neurological symptoms were present. Some patients were investigated with brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, electroencephalogram and some with polysomnography. Seven patients (2 female, 5 male), ages from 8 to 47 years (median 20.7 years) were included in the study. The duration of symptoms was 1.5–20 days with a mean of 8. The range of interval between episodes: 2.5-24 months, median=13. All seven patients had a history of hypersomnia (one of them post head injury); 5 reported hyperphagia and 2 reduced appetite. Brain MRI was performed in 6 patients: 1 showed non-specific abnormalities and another presented diencephalic hematoma; the rest were normal. Our paper is the first one in Buenos Aires reporting Kleine-Levin syndrome of different ethiologies. The prevalence is difficult to estimate in our country. 

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Published

2018-07-10

How to Cite

Valiensi, S. M., Garay, A., Podestá, C., Mazzola, M. E., Paleka, M. C., & Martínez, O. A. (2018). Kleine Levin syndrome: review of diagnosed cases of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vertex Revista Argentina De Psiquiatría, 29(139, may.-jun.), 165–171. Retrieved from https://revistavertex.com.ar/ojs/index.php/vertex/article/view/331