Periodic limb movement disorder

Periodic limb movement disorder
SpecialtyNeurology Edit this on Wikidata

Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is a sleep disorder where the patient moves limbs involuntarily and periodically during sleep, and has symptoms or problems related to the movement. PLMD should not be confused with restless legs syndrome (RLS), which is characterized by a voluntary response to an urge to move legs due to discomfort. PLMD on the other hand is involuntary, and the patient is often unaware of these movements altogether. Periodic limb movements (PLMs) occurring during daytime period can be found but are considered as a symptom of RLS; only PLMs during sleep can suggest a diagnosis of PLMD.[1]

Periodic limb movement disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of frequent limb movements while sleeping. It mostly happens in the lower parts of the body like the toes, ankles, knees and hips. It can also, in some cases, appear in the upper extremities of the body. These movements can lead the patient to wake up, and if so, sleep interruption can be the origin of excessive daytime sleepiness.[2]

PLMD is characterized by increased periodic limb movements during sleep, which must coexist with a sleep disturbance or other functional impairment, in an explicit cause-effect relationship.[3][4] Usually, these involuntary movements come from lower extremities (including toes, ankles, knees, and hips), although they can also be observed in upper extremities, occasionally.[5] PLMs seem to be common features within many people, and identifying whether or not these movements are clinically relevant for a distinct diagnosis of PLMD remains a challenge for clinical and scientific fields.[4][5] Moreover, diagnosis of PLMD cannot be used when narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome (RLS), REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) or untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is already diagnosed, since abnormal movements during sleep are frequent in these disorders.[3][4]

  1. ^ Hening W (September 2004). "The clinical neurophysiology of the restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movements. Part I: diagnosis, assessment, and characterization". Clinical Neurophysiology. 115 (9): 1965–74. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2004.03.032. PMID 15294199. S2CID 20528588.
  2. ^ Aurora RN, Kristo DA, Bista SR, Rowley JA, Zak RS, Casey KR, et al. (August 2012). "The treatment of restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder in adults--an update for 2012: practice parameters with an evidence-based systematic review and meta-analyses: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline". Sleep. 35 (8): 1039–62. doi:10.5665/sleep.1988. PMC 3397811. PMID 22851801.
  3. ^ a b Sateia MJ (November 2014). "International classification of sleep disorders-third edition: highlights and modifications". Chest. 146 (5). Elsevier BV: 1387–1394. doi:10.1378/chest.14-0970. PMID 25367475.
  4. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Aurora RN, Kristo DA, Bista SR, Rowley JA, Zak RS, Casey KR, et al. (August 2012). "Update to the AASM Clinical Practice Guideline: "The treatment of restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder in adults-an update for 2012: practice parameters with an evidence-based systematic review and meta-analyses"". Sleep. 35 (8). Oxford University Press (OUP): 1037. doi:10.5665/sleep.1986. PMC 3397810. PMID 22851800.