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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
07:01
Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
Published on: May 16, 2019
Gabapentin for Kleine-Levin syndrome
Kaori Itokawa1, Miki Fukui, Mikiko Ninomiya
1Department of Neurology, Saitama Medical University. kitokawa@saitama-med.ac.jp
Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|July 3, 2009
Summary
Gabapentin effectively prevented attacks in a 17-year-old with Kleine-Levin syndrome (KLS). Brain imaging suggested epilepsy-like activity in the thalamus, potentially linked to GABAergic receptor dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Kleine-Levin syndrome (KLS) is a rare disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of hypersomnia, cognitive deficits, and behavioral changes.
- Established treatments for KLS are lacking, with limited efficacy reported for lithium.
Observation:
- A 17-year-old female presented with recurrent hypersomnia and behavioral disturbances consistent with KLS.
- Technetium-99m-ECD SPECT imaging during symptomatic periods revealed hyperperfusion in the thalamus and nucleus accumbens.
Findings:
- Gabapentin demonstrated significant efficacy in preventing recurrent attacks of KLS in this patient.
- The observed hyperperfusion patterns suggest potential epilepsy-like neuronal discharges originating from the thalamus.
Implications:
- This case suggests gabapentin as a potential therapeutic option for KLS attack prevention.
- The findings support the hypothesis that KLS may involve thalamic dysfunction and epilepsy-like neuronal activity, possibly related to GABAergic system abnormalities.
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