Session Information
Date: Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Session Title: Restless Legs Syndrome and Other Sleep Disorders
Session Time: 1:45pm-3:15pm
Location: Exhibit Hall C
Objective: In this study, we aim to determine whether an association between RLS and endothelial dysfunction exists.
Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep related movement disorders, characterized by an uncomfortable sensation usually in the legs, particularly at night. Although several studies have demonstrated an association between cardiovascular disease and RLS, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear.
Methods: Twenty-five RLS patients and 25 age, sex- matched controls were included. After 2 days of withdrawal of medication, cerebral vasomotor reactivity (VMR) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) were measured.
Results: RLS patients had significantly lower cerebral VMR (52.0±9.5% vs 58.9±9.2%, p=0.012) and FMD (7.1±1.6% vs 8.5±1.8%, p=0.007) than controls. There was significant correlation between cerebral VMR and FMD (r=0.51; p=0.009) but severity and duration of RLS was not correlated with cerebral VMR or FMD.
Conclusions: This study demonstrated that RLS patients have poorer cerebral and systemic endothelial function than normal healthy subjects. These vascular endothelial dysfunctions may directly relate to the higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease in restless legs syndrome.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
M.S. Kim, J.H. Yoon. Impaired cerebral and systemic endothelial dysfunction in patients with restless legs syndrome [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2017; 32 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/impaired-cerebral-and-systemic-endothelial-dysfunction-in-patients-with-restless-legs-syndrome/. Accessed June 15, 2025.« Back to 2017 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/impaired-cerebral-and-systemic-endothelial-dysfunction-in-patients-with-restless-legs-syndrome/