Kleine-Levin syndrome /klīn″ lev″in/ [Willi Kleine, German psychiatrist, 1879–1961; Max Levin, Russian-born American neurologist, 1901–1974] , a disorder of unknown cause often associated with periods of abnormal behavior or cognitive abnormalities and characterized by episodic sleep, abnormal hunger, and hyperactivity. The episodes of sleep may last for several hours or days and are followed by confusion on awakening. Symptoms can be interspersed with long periods of normal sleep, cognition, behavior, and mood. There is no specific treatment. Compare narcolepsy.
