title: Case study: hypersomnolence and precocious puberty in a child with pica and chronic lead intoxication.
abstract: The limited literature on hypersomnolence suggests that it is a poorly defined symptom associated with a spectrum of disorders from monosymptomatic hypersomnolence to the Kleine-Levin syndrome. These disorders often herald an organic central nervous system syndrome. Recent evidence suggests a frequent association between these disorders and hypothalamic dysfunction, which itself may be caused by a variety of factors. This case study of a patient with persistent hypersomnolence, hypothalamic dysfunction (in the form of precocious puberty), pica, and chronic lead intoxication strengthens the association between hypersomnolence and hypothalamic dysfunction and suggests a heretofore unreported cause of hypothalamic dysfunction in humans.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, USA.
authors: N W
authors: NW
authors: Boris
authors: O R
authors: OR
authors: Hagino
authors: G P
authors: GP
authors: Steiner
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000150:complications*; D010842:Pica / Q000150:complications*; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000150:complications*