Sleep Related Periodic Leg Movements

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 13(4); 1995 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1995;13(4): 913-923.

수면과 연관된 주기성 다리 이상운동

김용덕, 이상복, 이명식

연세대학교 영동세브란스병원 신경과

Sleep Related Periodic Leg Movements

Yong Duk Kim, M.D., Sang Bock Lee, M.D., Myung Sik Lee, M.D.

Department of Neurology, Yongdong Severance Hospital Yonsei University, College of Medicine

Abstract

We describe 7 patients with sleep related periodic leg movements(SRPLM) associated with variable neurological diseases, including focal thoracic cord lesions(4 cases), idiopathic Parkinson's diseased case), recurrent aseptic meningitis(1 case), and subacute sensory polyneuropathy(l case). Four patients with SRPLM associated with thoracic cord lesions also had paraparesis, suggesting involvement of pyramidal tract in the genesis of SRPLM. All the other three patients had dysesthesia, and at least two of them had restless legs syndrome. SRPLM of a patient with a thoracic schwannoma disappeared completely after surgical removal of tumor. One patient with intramedullary thoracic cord lesion and one asociated with Parkinson's disease showed marked improvement of SRPLM after levodopa treatment. Damage to the pyramidal tract or abnormal sensory inputs seem to activate lumbosacral generator selectively. Such neuronal systems are suspected to be modulated by. The dopaminergic neuronal system and the neuronal structures related to sleep.