Acute-onset Restless legs syndrome in acute neurological conditions-a prospective study on patients with the Guillain-Barre syndrome and acute stroke

Restless legs syndrome after acute ıschemic stroke and ıts relation to lesion location

Purpose

We aimed to investigate the prevalence, clinical profiles and lesion location of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) developed after ischemic stroke.

Methods

This study prospectively included 244 patients with acute cerebral infarction. All patients were evaluated for RLS, and those who met all of the essential diagnostic criteria of the International RLS Study Group were diagnosed with RLS. The evaluation of lesion location was performed by magnetic resonance imaging. International Restless Legs Syndrome Rating Scale was performed 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after the index stroke to determine the symptom severity of the patients and to observe the exacerbation or regression in follow-up.

Results

A total of 14 patients (5.7%) had post-stroke RLS (psRLS). The psRLS group consisted mostly of males (9 males, 5 females). Among the patients with psRLS, 12 had a subcortical stroke (9.2%, 130 patients) whereas only 2 had a cortical stroke (1.8%, 114 patients) (p = 0.01). The subcortical lesion locations in the psRLS group were the pons, basal ganglia and/or corona radiata, thalamus, and cerebellum in order of decreasing frequency. Five patients had symptoms in both legs, and 9 patients had symptoms in unilateral legs (7 contralateral, 2 ipsilateral to the lesion). At follow-up, the symptoms of 6 patients resolved completely without medication, 5 patients responded well to pramipexole and 1 patient responded poorly. Only 2 patients who refused to take medication had worsened symptoms.

Conclusion

The subcortical ischemic lesions are associated with psRLS. Pons, basal ganglia and corona radiata are the structures more likely to cause RLS.

Narrative review of sleep and stroke

Sleep disorders, such as sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), insomnia or restless legs syndrome (RLS), are common in the general population and after stroke. In some cases, sleep disturbances are pre-existing, but can also appear de novo as a direct consequence of brain damage or due to stroke-related complications. Furthermore, some sleep conditions may act as a risk factor of stroke. This review explores the available evidence of the two-way relationship between sleep and stroke. Cardiovascular physiological changes during sleep are described, as well as the evidence on the relationship between stroke and sleep duration, SDB, RLS, insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and circadian rhythm alterations. Potential changes on sleep architecture, and the links that may exist between sleep and functional outcomes after stroke are also discussed. Importantly, sleep-related disturbances may be associated with worse stroke recovery outcomes and increased cerebrovascular morbidity. It is therefore relevant that the bidirectional association between stroke and sleep is taken into consideration by clinicians taking care of these patients. Future research may focus on this mutual relationship for a better understanding of the impact of stroke on sleep, the importance of sleep in stroke incidence and recovery, and have further evidence on treatment strategies that may improve functional outcome after stroke.

Restless legs syndrome and its variants in acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

The clinical-radiological correlation between restless legs syndrome (RLS) or its variants and acute ischemic stroke remains unclear.

METHODS

This study prospectively included 104 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke, confirmed by diffusion-weighted imaging. The frequency and clinical characteristics of RLS or RLS variants were evaluated according to the International RLS Study Group criteria, as was the topography of the associated lesions.

RESULTS

Among 104 patients with acute ischemic stroke, 6 (5.8%) and 2 patients (1.9%) had RLS and RLS variants, respectively, for a total of 8 patients (7.7%). Three (3.3%) had poststroke RLS/RLS variants: 2 (66.7%) had bilateral symptoms and 1 (33.3%) had unilateral symptoms contralateral to the lesion. RLS symptoms developed within 2 days after the onset of stroke. Forty percent of prestroke RLS/RLS variant patients experienced exacerbation of their symptoms after stroke onset, and two-thirds of poststroke RLS/RLS variant patients required treatment for their RLS/RLS variants. Patients positive for RLS/RLS variants tended to have difficulty falling asleep, but there was no difference in daytime sleepiness, sleep quality, depressive symptoms, stroke subtypes, comorbid diseases, laboratory data, or modified Rankin Scale scores at admission or discharge between patients with and without RLS/RLS variants. RLS/RLS variants were most frequently observed to accompany lesions in the medulla (25%), followed by the pons (15.4%), the corona radiata (14.8%), the basal ganglia (3.8%), and the cortex (3.8%).

CONCLUSION

RLS/RLS variants were found in 8% of acute ischemic stroke patients. Adequate screening and management are needed to improve patients' quality of life.

Clinical and radiological characteristics of restless legs syndrome following acute lacunar infarction

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have suggested that cerebral ischemic infarction may contribute to the development of restless legs syndrome (RLS). This study analyzed the clinical and radiological profiles of RLS with onset after acute lacunar infarction.

METHODS

In this retrospective study we enrolled 244 consecutive patients with acute lacunar infarction between January 2012 and June 2014. RLS was identified and evaluated based on the International RLS Rating Scale (IRLS-RS). Individual sleep quality was assessed using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Psychological state was also assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS).

RESULTS

The incidence of RLS in patients with lacunar infarction was 5.33%. Our participant group consisted of nine males and four females. Three patients had symptoms in bilateral limbs, and 10 patients had symptoms only contralateral to the cerebral infarction. The infarctions were localized to the pons, centrum semiovale, thalamus, putamen, medulla, and occipital lobe. Contralateral paralysis was found in 13 patients, and contralateral sensory deficit in seven patients. The average IRLS-RS, ESS, HDS, HAS scores were 19.07 ± 8.70, 4.69 ± 5.82, 4.38 ± 4.68, and 3.85 ± 4.76, respectively. Nine patients had diabetes mellitus. After administration of dopaminergic drugs, patients' RLS significantly improved.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of RLS after acute lacunar infarction was 5.33%. Pons, centrum semiovale, and basal ganglia were the common locations of responsible lesions. Compared to idiopathic RLS, symptoms of RLS after acute lacunar infarction appeared more unilateral and more likely involved the arm. Moreover, diabetes mellitus may be a risk factor for RLS in stroke patients.