[The Kleine-Levin-Critchley-syndrome. A contribution to the solution of differential diagnosis (author's transl)].

Abstract

The typical symptoms of the so-called Kleine-Levin-Critchley-Syndrome are described according to our own observation of four selected patients (one woman, three men) on the background of the literature on the subject. In contrast to the first descriptions we characterise this syndrome by the Trias: periodic hypersomnia, vegetative disturbances (especially of food intake) and psychopathologic symptoms. Especially young men in their second decade of life suffer from this syndrome. As far as women are concerned the disease is found more seldom but the authors are sure that it exists. A spontaneous remission of the periodically proceeding disease often occurs in the third decade of life. In analogy to the respective literature a retardation of the EEG during the course of the disease going along with otherwise inconspicuous neurology was observed by the authors. Polygraphic-EEG studies are seldom. The cause of the syndrome is still open to question. Our observation show that a primarily disposition-linked and a secondarily acquisition-linked form can be assumed. Good effects are put down to amphetamines used for therapy. As far as differential diagnosis is concerned infections and abusus must be excluded.