HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by BILLIARD, M. Articles by DEMENT, W. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by BILLIARD, M. Articles by DEMENT, W. C.

A menstruation-linked periodic hypersomnia

Kleine-Levin syndrome or new clinical entity?

Sleep Disorders Clinic and Laboratory, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.

A 13-year-old girl showed periodic episodes of somnolence without megaphagia recurring in association with each menstruation. During somnolent episodes total sleep time averaged 14 hours and 19 minutes per 24 hours. The level of performance evaluated by means of the Wilkinson Addition Test was significantly impaired. There was an abnormal increase of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid in the cerebrospinal fluid after probenecid test, suggesting an increase of the turnover of 5-hydroxytryptamine during periodic hypersomnia. Investigation of the menstrual cycle failed to document any striking hormonal abnormality. Nevertheless, the close relationship between the episodes of hypersomnia and the end of the menstrual cycle led us to hypothesize a role of progesterone and to try a hormonal type of treatment that is thus far successful.

This research was supported by NINDS grant NS 10727 and Research Scientist Development award MH 05804 to Dr. Dement. Dr. Billiard was supported by a fellowship from Ministère des affaires étrangères français.

Received for publication September 24, 1974.

Reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Guilleminault at Sleep Disorders Clinic and Laboratory, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304. Dr. Billiard's current address is Service de Médecine Expérimentale, Facultr de Médecine, Montpellier, France.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y.-S. Huang, Y.-H. Lin, and C. Guilleminault Polysomnography in Kleine-Levin syndrome Neurology, March 4, 2008; 70(10): 795 - 801. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Arnulf, J. M. Zeitzer, J. File, N. Farber, and E. Mignot Kleine-Levin syndrome: a systematic review of 186 cases in the literature Brain, December 1, 2005; 128(12): 2763 - 2776. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. E. Black, S. Nishino, and S. N. Brooks Narcolepsy and Syndromes of Central Nervous System-Mediated Sleepiness Focus, October 1, 2005; 3(4): 585 - 597. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G Stores Medication for sleep-wake disorders Arch. Dis. Child., October 1, 2003; 88(10): 899 - 903. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Dauvilliers, G. Mayer, M. Lecendreux, E. Neidhart, R. Peraita-Adrados, K. Sonka, M. Billiard, and M. Tafti Kleine-Levin syndrome: An autoimmune hypothesis based on clinical and genetic analyses Neurology, December 10, 2002; 59(11): 1739 - 1745. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Guilleminault and S. N. Brooks Excessive daytime sleepiness: A challenge for the practising neurologist Brain, August 1, 2001; 124(8): 1482 - 1491. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. J. DOUGLAS "Why am I sleepy?" . Sorting the Somnolent Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., May 1, 2001; 163(6): 1310 - 1313. [Full Text]

				P. S. Powers and R. Gunderman Kleine-Levin Syndrome Associated With Fire Setting Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, August 1, 1978; 132(8): 786 - 789. [Abstract] [PDF]