Session Information
Date: Monday, September 23, 2019
Session Title: Restless Leg Syndrome, RBD and Other Sleep Disorders
Session Time: 1:45pm-3:15pm
Location: Les Muses Terrace, Level 3
Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the possible relationship between restless leg syndrome (RLS) and retinal thickness.
Background: Dopamine is the major catecholamine in retinal cells and is also a possible transmitter of the amacrine and interplexiform cells. There is a strong relationship between RLS and dopaminergic dysfunction. Examination of macular and retinal nerve fiber layers, where the dopaminergic neurons are dens, may be important for the evaluation of the progression of RLS.
Method: 55 idiopathic HBS patients diagnosed according to the International RLS Study Group criterias and 55 age and gender matched healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. People with a history of systemic disease, neurodegenerative disease, glaucoma, retinal disease and ophthalmologic surgery were excluded. After routine ophthalmologic examinations in both groups, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed to evaluate macular thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, ganglion cell layer thickness and optic disc head parameters. Patient and study groups were compared in terms of the obtained data.
Results: The central foveal thickness was more thinner in the RLS group than the control group (p<0.001). The thickness of the inferior, superior and temporal quadrant retinal nerve fiber layers was significantly decreased in the RLS group compared to the control group (p<0.001). The thickness of the parafoveal ganglion cell complex was also significantly decreased in the RLS group (p=0.011). Optic nerve head parameters (cup volume, cup / disk ratio, disk space) did not show significant difference between the two groups. Ganglion cell complex thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness showed significant negative correlation with disease duration (p<0.001, r: -0.414; p<0,001, r: -0.524, respectively).
Conclusion: Our findings showed a significant thinning of the macula and retinal nerve fiber layer, which is dense in terms of dopaminergic neurons in RLS. Our results support dopaminergic dysfunction in RLS pathogenesis. Ophthalmological measurements with OCT may be considered as predictive for the progression of RLS.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
N. Ongun, G. Ongun. Evaluation of Retinal Layers in Restless Legs Syndrome [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2019; 34 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/evaluation-of-retinal-layers-in-restless-legs-syndrome/. Accessed June 15, 2025.« Back to 2019 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/evaluation-of-retinal-layers-in-restless-legs-syndrome/