• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2003

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movement of sleep (PLMS), often concurrent, come under diagnosed disorders of sleep and treatable condition. RLS symptoms are evoked in the limbs at rest and increase in the evening and during the night. PLMS is characterized by periodic episodes of repetitive limb movements caused by muscle contractions during sleep. RLS is often associated with a sleep complaint and PLMS. Both RLS and PLMS represent one of the most commonly encountered sleep disorders in a primary care setting. The circadian rhythm and the presence of PLMS cause sleep disturbances in RLS. The emphasis on pathophysiology includes consideration of central nervous system localization, neurotransmitter, and the role of iron metabolism. Dopaminergic agents are considered the treatment of choice for RLS and PLMS. With proper diagnosis and effective treatment patients' ability to fall asleep and maintain sleep improves, and their sense of well being increases.

• Journal of Sleep Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.62-67
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• 2018

Objectives: Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a common sensorimotor disorder and is frequently associated with periodic limb movement in sleep (PLMS). Also about one third of patient with RLS have periodic limb movement during wakefulness (PLMW). However there is little research on the correlation between PLMW and RLS. We aimed to evaluate difference in sleep characteristics between patients with RLS with PLMW and those without PLMW. Methods: Our study included twenty eight RLS patients. Subjects underwent suggested immobilization test (SIT) prior to one full-night polysomnography study. Patients were classified into two groups according to the presence of PLMW based on SIT-PLMW index. Polysomnographic findings, subjective sleep quality, and hematologic results were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results: Mean age of patient with frequent PLMW (SIT-PLMW ${\geq}40/hr$) was significantly higher. RLS patients with frequent PLMW were also significantly related to insomnia severity. The PLMS index was higher in patients with PLMW and showed a significant correlation with the PLMW index. Conclusions: PLMW influence sleep quality such as insomnia and is correlated with movement during sleep.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.9-12
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• 2023

Periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) are prevalent in various sleep disorders, such as restless legs syndrome (RLS), periodic limb movements disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), and narcolepsy. PLMS has been hypothesized to be related to the decline of dopaminergic transmission. In RLS, PLMS is suggested to be related to iron deficiency and symptom severity. PLMD is a rare sleep disorder, and the role of PLMS in PLMD has not been clearly investigated yet. PLMS in OSA, which remain after proper PAP therapy, may need further management. The clinical relevance of PLMS in RBD and narcolepsy have not been investigated thoroughly and need further studies. Whether PLMS are to be considered as a mere symptom of individual sleep disorders or not can be elucidated through studies investigating the efficacy of therapeutic approaches to reduce PLMS in various sleep disorders.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.3-8
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• 2023

Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is a sleep-related movement disorder characterized by involuntary, rhythmic limb movements during sleep. While PLMD itself is not considered life-threatening, its association with certain underlying health conditions raises concerns about mortality risks. PLMD has been found to be associated with cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The fragmented sleep caused by the repetitive limb movements and associated arousals may contribute to sympathetic activation, chronic sleep disruption, sleep deprivation, and subsequent cardiovascular problems, which can increase mortality risks. The comorbidities and health factors commonly associated with PLMD, such as obesity, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease, may also contribute to increased mortality risks. PLMD is often observed alongside other neurological disorders, including restless legs syndrome (RLS) and Parkinson's disease. The presence of PLMD in these conditions may exacerbate the underlying health issues and potentially contribute to higher mortality rates. Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms linking PLMD to mortality risks and to develop targeted interventions that address these risks.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.191-200
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• 1997

Objectives : Periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) may cause arousals that may lead to non-restorative sleep. PLMS is characterized by long sleep latency, sleep fragmentation, frequent stage shifts, and rarity of stages 3/4 NREM sleep on polysomnography. However, controversies have existed and it still remains to be elaborated whether PLMS actually causes insomnia, since normal persons happen to have PLMS. Clinically, it would be crucial to know factors which might disturb sleep in PLMS. We became interested in Coleman's theory(1980) that invariant periodic movements disturb patients' sleep less. Though, Coleman's study seems to have been confounded by including PLMS patients with various co-morbid sleep disorders. Therefore, we attempted to study in patients only with PLMS the effects of movement patterns on sleep architecture. Methods : In 27 patients diagnosed as having PLMS only with clinical interview and nocturnal polysomnography, we studied the relationship between the movement patterns such as mean duration and variability of periodic limb movement's interval and the sleep architecture variables. Results : The shorter and the more regular the limb movement intervals were, the fewer arousals followed. The movement intervals of the older patients were shorter and more regular than the younger patients. The probability of the accompanying arousal with each limb movement increased as the duration and variance of the movement intervals increased. It decreased as the age and the frequency of limb movements increased. Among these factors the most significant one was the mean duration of the movement intervals. In other words, the shorter the movement intervals were, the less disturbed sleep was. Conclusion : PLMS frequency increases with aging but the probability of the accompanying arousal with each movement decreases with aging. Sleep-disturbing effects of PLMS depends more on the duration and variability of movement intervals than the PLMS frequency.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2012

Polysomnography is used to diagnose many types of sleep disorders including sleep apnea, periodic limb movement disorder, REM sleep behavior disorder, parasomnias, and narcolepsy. It is a comprehensive recording of the biophysiological changes that occur during sleep. The polysomnography monitors many body functions parameters including EEG, EOG, EMG, ECG, respiratory airflow, respiratory effort, and pulse oximetry during sleep. Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) is performed for diagnosing narcolepsy and excessive daytime sleepiness. It is usually to be done after an overnight polysomnography. The test consists of four or five 20-minute nap opportunities that are scheduled two hours apart.

• Journal of Sleep Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.68-73
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• 2018

Objectives: Periodic leg movements in sleep (PLMS) are associated with arousals and autonomic activation, which may contribute to higher cardiovascular disease risk in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS). Non-periodic leg movements in sleep (NPLM) are leg jerks in sleep that does not satisfy standard criteria of PLMS. The aim of this study was to evaluate impact of short-interval leg movements in sleep (SILMS) and isolated leg movements in sleep (ILMS) in comparison to PLMS on heart rate in both patients with RLS and healthy controls. Methods: Seven idiopathic RLS patients and 9 controls were enrolled in this study. Polysomnographic studies were analyzed and leg movements (LM) were automatically detected. NPLM can be classified as SILMS and ILMS. SILMS are LM separated by an inter-movement interval (IMI) shorter than 10 s, and ILMS are LM with IMI longer than 90 s. Frequency and heart rate associated with SILMS, ILMS, and PLMS in RLS patients were compared to those in controls. Heart rate change associated with LM were determined for a fixed time window. Results: Frequencies of SILMS and ILMS of patients with RLS were not significantly different to those of controls. RLS patients presented higher heart rate change associated with SILMS than PLMS before movement onset, while heart rate change associated with SILMS, ILMS, and PLMS were not different in the controls. Conclusions: Although the number of SILMS is not higher than PLMS, SILMS may have closely associated with higher cardiac activation of RLS than PLMS. Therefore, SILMS might be an important treatment target for patients with RLS to reduce long-term cardiovascular risk. Long-term prospective studies are needed to evaluate the relationship between NPLM and cardiovascular disease in patients with RLS.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2018

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) could be one of risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between PLMS and blood pressure changes during sleep. Methods: We analyzed data from 358 adults (176 men and 182 women) aged 18 years and older who were free from sleep apnea syndrome (Respiratory Disturbance Index < 5) and sleep disorders such as REM sleep behavior disorder or narcolepsy. Demographic characteristics, polysomnography records, and clinical variable data including blood pressure, body mass index, alcohol, smoking, and current medications were collected. In addition, self-report questionnaires including the Beck Depression Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were completed. Blood pressure change from bedtime to awakening was compared between the two periodic limb movement index (PLMI) groups [low PLMI ($PLMI{\leq}15$) and high PLMI (PLMI > 15)]. Blood pressure change patterns were compared using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: Systolic blood pressure in the high PLMI group was lower than that in the low PLMI group (p = 0.036). These results were also significant when adjusted for gender and age, but were not statistically significant when adjusted for BMI, alcohol, smoking, anti-hypertension medication use and sleep efficiency (p = 0.098). Systolic blood pressure dropped by 9.7 mm Hg in the low PLMI group, and systolic blood pressure in the high PLMI group dropped by 2.9 mm Hg. There was a significant difference in delta systolic blood pressure after sleep between the two groups in women when adjusted for age, BMI, alcohol, smoking, antihypertensive medication use and sleep efficiency (p = 0.023). Conclusion: PLMS was significantly associated with a decreasing pattern in nocturnal BP during sleep, and this association remained significant in women when adjusted for age, BMI, alcohol, smoking, antihypertension medication use and sleep efficiency related to blood pressure. We suggest that PLMS may be associated with cardiovascular morbidity.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2007

Sleep changes substantially with age. There is a phase advance in the circadian sleep cycle and increased waking after sleep onset. The elderly people wake more frequently during the night and experience fragmented sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. The prevalence of sleep disorders increases with age, and the composition of sleep disorders in the elderly differs from that in the young. The most frequently encountered sleep disorders are psychophysiologic insomnia, sleep disturbance due to dementia, sleeprelated respiratory disorder, restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder, and REM sleep behavior disorder. To treat the elderly sleep problem appropriately, it is important to know how sleep pattern changes as we age and to understand the cause of sleep-related symptoms. This article will review the sleep physiology and common sleep disorders in the elderly.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.164-171
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• 1997

Introduction : Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is shown to common in patients with OSA and may become evident or worsened when treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Whether this is due to im proved sleep continuity. adverse nocturnal body positioning, uncovered by CPAP, or due to the CPAP stimulus is still debat-ed. We hypothesized that the increase in PLM activity following CPAP is associated with more supine-sleeping tendencies when being treated with CPAP. In the present work, we compared differences in the PLMD index (PLMI) and sleeping position of patients with sleep disordered breathing before and after CPAP treatment. Method : We studied 16 patients (mean age 46 yr, 9M, 7F) with OSA (11 patients) or UARS (5 patients) who either had PLMD on initial polysomnogram (baseline PSG) or on nasal CPAP trial (CPAP PSG). All periodic leg movements were scored on anterior tibialis EMG during sleep according to standard criteria (net duration; 0.5-5.0 seconds, intervals; 4-90 seconds. 4 consecutive movements). Paired t-tests compared PLMD index (PLMI), PLMD-related arousal index (PLMD-ArI), respiratory disturbance index (RDI), and supine sleeping position spent with baseline PSG and CPAP PSG. Results : Ten patients (63%) on baseline PSG and fifteen patients (94%) on CPAP PSG had documented PLMD ($PLMI{\ge}5$) respectively with significant increase on CPAP PSG(p<0.05). Ten patients showed the emergence (6/10 patients) or substantial worsening (4/10 patients) of PLMD during CPAP trial. Mean CPAP pressure was $7.6{\pm}1.8\;cmH_2O$. PLMI tended to increase from baseline PSG to CPAP PSG, and significantly increase when excluding 2 outlier (baseline PSG, $19.0{\pm}25.8/hr$ vs CPAP PSG, $29.9{\pm}12.5/hr$, p<0.1). PLMD-ArI showed no significant change, but a significant decrease was detected when excluding 2 outlier (p<0.1). There was no significant sleeping positional difference (supine vs non-supine) on baseline PSG, but significantly more supine position (supine vs non-supine, p<0.05) on CPAP PSG. There was no significant difference in PLMI during supine-sleeping and nonsupine-sleeping position on both of baseline PSG and CPAP PSG. There was also no significant difference in PLMI during supine-sleeping position between baseline PSG and CPAP PSG. With nasal CPAP, there was a highly significant reduction in the RDI (baseline PSG, $14.1{\pm}21.3/hr$ vs CPAP PSG, $2.7{\pm}3.9/hr$, p<0.05). Conclusion : This preliminary data confirms previous findings that CPAP is a very effective treatment for OSA, and that PLMD is developed or worsened with treatment by CPAP. This data also indicates that supine-sleeping position is more common when being treated with CPAP. However, there was no clear evidence that supine position is the causal factor of increased PLMD with CPAP. It is, however, suggested that the relative movement limitation induced by CPAP treatment could be a contributory factor of PLMD.