Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-p2v8j Total loading time: 0.001 Render date: 2024-06-01T22:46:02.831Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 22 - Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movements and excessive sleepiness

from Section 2 - Sleep Disorders and Excessive Sleepiness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2011

Michael J. Thorpy
Affiliation:
Sleep-Wake Disorders Center, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
Michel Billiard
Affiliation:
Guide Chauliac Hospital, Montpellier, France
Get access

Summary

Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder are common neurological entities that may be associated with insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness. This chapter reviews the clinical features, natural history, laboratory investigations, genetics, pathology, and management of primary restless legs syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). Large epidemiological surveys have shown that self-reported symptoms of RLS were correlated with sleepiness. Electrodiagnostic testing with nerve conduction studies and electromyography are useful to detect subtle peripheral neuropathies. Several factors suggest that impaired dopaminergic function and iron homeostasis underlie the pathophysiology of RLS. One study demonstrated that dopaminergic treatment of RLS patients improved both RLS severity and sleepiness as measured by multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) score. Considerable research has been directed towards elucidating the basic mechanisms and optimizing the management of RLS and PLMD.
Type
Chapter
Information
Sleepiness
Causes, Consequences and Treatment
, pp. 238 - 248
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×