Restless Legs Syndrome as the Initial Presentation of Multiple Sclerosis

The restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common central nervous system disorder. It is characterized by complaints of unpleasant sensation in the legs occurring during periods of leg inactivity which worsen or only occur in the evening or at night and relieved partially or totally by movement. The RLS...

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Main Authors: Ceyla Irkec, Doga Vurallı, Sebnem Karacay Ozkalaycı
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/290719
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author Ceyla Irkec
Doga Vurallı
Sebnem Karacay Ozkalaycı
author_facet Ceyla Irkec
Doga Vurallı
Sebnem Karacay Ozkalaycı
author_sort Ceyla Irkec
collection DOAJ
description The restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common central nervous system disorder. It is characterized by complaints of unpleasant sensation in the legs occurring during periods of leg inactivity which worsen or only occur in the evening or at night and relieved partially or totally by movement. The RLS may be idiopathic or due to secondary causes. It is associated with several pathological or physiological conditions. Iron metabolism and dysfunctions of the dopaminergic system are the most important factors in the pathophysiology. There are several studies suggesting multiple sclerosis as one of the causes of symptomatic RLS. Here, we report a case of RLS as the initial presentation of MS. The sudden onset of RLS symptoms in our patient suggested the possibility of an underlying cause. His diagnostic evaluation excluded other causes of RLS and his clinical course suggested that RLS was due to MS. MS with the spinal cord involvement is mostly associated with RLS, but any lesion in the hypothalamic-spinal connection may cause disinhibition of lower spinal levels, resulting in RLS. RLS as the initial presentation of MS reflects that the pathophysiology of RLS in MS is related to inflammatory demyelination rather than axonal degeneration.
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publishDate 2013-01-01
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series Case Reports in Medicine
spelling doaj-art-e9e75973c79c488eaae1ff893a66987c2025-02-03T06:00:40ZengWileyCase Reports in Medicine1687-96271687-96352013-01-01201310.1155/2013/290719290719Restless Legs Syndrome as the Initial Presentation of Multiple SclerosisCeyla Irkec0Doga Vurallı1Sebnem Karacay Ozkalaycı2Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Beşevler, 06500 Ankara, TurkeyDepartment of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Beşevler, 06500 Ankara, TurkeyDepartment of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Beşevler, 06500 Ankara, TurkeyThe restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common central nervous system disorder. It is characterized by complaints of unpleasant sensation in the legs occurring during periods of leg inactivity which worsen or only occur in the evening or at night and relieved partially or totally by movement. The RLS may be idiopathic or due to secondary causes. It is associated with several pathological or physiological conditions. Iron metabolism and dysfunctions of the dopaminergic system are the most important factors in the pathophysiology. There are several studies suggesting multiple sclerosis as one of the causes of symptomatic RLS. Here, we report a case of RLS as the initial presentation of MS. The sudden onset of RLS symptoms in our patient suggested the possibility of an underlying cause. His diagnostic evaluation excluded other causes of RLS and his clinical course suggested that RLS was due to MS. MS with the spinal cord involvement is mostly associated with RLS, but any lesion in the hypothalamic-spinal connection may cause disinhibition of lower spinal levels, resulting in RLS. RLS as the initial presentation of MS reflects that the pathophysiology of RLS in MS is related to inflammatory demyelination rather than axonal degeneration.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/290719
spellingShingle Ceyla Irkec
Doga Vurallı
Sebnem Karacay Ozkalaycı
Restless Legs Syndrome as the Initial Presentation of Multiple Sclerosis
Case Reports in Medicine
title Restless Legs Syndrome as the Initial Presentation of Multiple Sclerosis
title_full Restless Legs Syndrome as the Initial Presentation of Multiple Sclerosis
title_fullStr Restless Legs Syndrome as the Initial Presentation of Multiple Sclerosis
title_full_unstemmed Restless Legs Syndrome as the Initial Presentation of Multiple Sclerosis
title_short Restless Legs Syndrome as the Initial Presentation of Multiple Sclerosis
title_sort restless legs syndrome as the initial presentation of multiple sclerosis
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/290719
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AT dogavurallı restlesslegssyndromeastheinitialpresentationofmultiplesclerosis
AT sebnemkaracayozkalaycı restlesslegssyndromeastheinitialpresentationofmultiplesclerosis