[The periodic hypersomnia and megaphagia syndrome in a young female, correlated with menstrual cycle (author's transl)]

Abstract

A 21-year-old female was first seen in 1974 for periodic hypersomnia. It had started at 13 years of age and was characterized by 4-6 days of drowsiness with megaphagia and some light psychic disorders. The attacks usually occurred at approximately 5-6 days after menstruation. Later, after an interval of oral contraception, they appeared during ovulation and increased in duration. During the periods of contraception, these attacks disappeared completely. At present (1980), the episodes are characterized by periodic hypersomnia, seen in a nocturnal polygraphic study; megaphagia has decreased, but the patient appears uncommunicative, sub-active and inexpressive when awaking in the course of the periods of somnolence. Several EEG recordings were made between 1974 and 1980, which showed few or no abnormalities during the attacks and which were normal with in the inter-ictal periods. Hormonal investigations failed to show any striking abnormality or correlation with continuous polygraphic studies. Similarity of this syndrome with the 'periodic hypersomnia and megaphagia in adolescent males' syndrome (Kleine-Levin) is discussed.