[Hypersomnia in multiple sclerosis]

A 13-year-old girl presented with hyersomnia and incontinence of urine. The clinical course was complicated by strabism, muscle weakness and coordination and balance disturbances. VEP recording were pathologic. Myelin basic protein in the cerebrospinal fluid was elevated. Nuclear resonance imaging of the brain revealed multiple areas of demyelination. These findings supported the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. There was a marked disturbance of the sleep-waking-pattern during the acute phase of the illness. The hypnogram resembled the pattern of polysymptomatic narcolepsy. Regression of symptoms was noted with dexamethasone therapy.