Restless legs syndrome as a first manifestation of a cerebral infarct.
Journal: Journal Of Clinical Sleep Medicine : JCSM : Official Publication Of The American Academy Of Sleep Medicine
Published:
Abstract
The onset of restless legs syndrome (RLS) is usually progressive and the neural substrates underlying its pathophysiology remain to be identified. Here we report on a patient presenting with acute-onset RLS that was symptomatic of a right anteromedial pontine infarction. This case is exceptional because RLS appeared several hours before the occurrence of a regressive dysarthria clumsy-hand syndrome. Additionally, millimetric MRI sections showed that the structures possibly involved in RLS pathogenesis were the corticospinal tract, the pontine nuclei, and the pontocerebellar fibers. Although this is uncommon, clinicians should be aware that RLS characterized by a sudden onset can be a clinical manifestation related to stroke.
Authors
Elisabeth Ruppert, Ulker Kilic Huck, Valérie Wolff, Laurent Tatu, Marion Ghobadi, Marc Bataillard, Patrice Bourgin
Relevant Conditions