Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Brief Clinical Note

Abnormal nocturnal behavior mimicking REM sleep behavior disorder episodes in a patient with periodic limb movement disorder

Kaoru Senzaki, R.P.S.G.T.1), Mutsumi Okura, M.D., Ph.D.2)3) and Yoshinobu Ohnishi, M.D., Ph.D4)

1) Division of Clinical Laboratory, Tenri Municipal Medical Center
2) Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Asahi University School of Dentistry
3) Center for Sleep Medicine, Asahi University Hospital
4) Department of Internal Medicine, Tenri Municipal Medical Center

Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is a condition in which patients experience frequent periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS). Synchronized arousal responses cause sleep fragmentation, resulting in insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue. A 59-year-old man was identified as having intense sleep-talking and body movements, suggesting rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Attended video-polysomnography (PSG) revealed that sleep-talking and body movements occurred only during non-REM sleep and were associated with PLMSinduced arousals (periodic leg movement arousal index, 53.2/h). Pramipexole administration improved events during sleep and daytime sleepiness, and the PSG findings and clinical course led to a diagnosis of PLMD. This case demonstrates that PLMD mimics the symptoms of RBD and that a detailed analysis of monitored video PSG is crucial to confirm the diagnosis of RBD and to identify or exclude other causes of sleep talking and behavior.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (3951K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 63: 760|764, 2023)
key words: periodic limb movements of sleep, periodic limb movement disorder, REM sleep behavior disorder, attended video-polysomnography, REM sleep without atonia

(Received: 30-Mar-23)