Nocturnal myoclonus syndrome (periodic movements in sleep) related to central dopamine D2-receptor alteration

The nocturnal myoclonus syndrome (NMS) consists of stereotyped, repetitive jerks of the lower limbs that occur during sleep or wakefulness. NMS is often related with restless-legs syndrome (RLS) and can cause severe sleep disturbances and daytime sleepiness. The efficacy of dopamine agonists in the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience 1995, Vol.245 (1), p.8-10
Main Authors: Staedt, J, Stoppe, G, Kögler, A, Riemann, H, Hajak, G, Munz, D L, Emrich, D, Rüther, E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Binding Sites
Circadian Rhythm
Corpus Striatum - metabolism
Female
Humans
Leg - physiopathology
Male
Middle Aged
Myoclonus - complications
Myoclonus - diagnosis
Myoclonus - physiopathology
Receptors, Dopamine D2 - metabolism
Restless Legs Syndrome - complications
Sleep Wake Disorders - etiology
Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
Wakefulness
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Summary:The nocturnal myoclonus syndrome (NMS) consists of stereotyped, repetitive jerks of the lower limbs that occur during sleep or wakefulness. NMS is often related with restless-legs syndrome (RLS) and can cause severe sleep disturbances and daytime sleepiness. The efficacy of dopamine agonists in the treatment points to a dopaminergic dysfunction in NMS. We investigated the central dopamine D2-receptor occupancy with [123I] labeled (S)-2-hydroxy-3-iodo-6-methoxy-([1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl]methyl) benzamide (IBZM) (a highly selective CNS D2 dopamine receptor ligand) ([123I]IBZM) and single photon emission tomography (SPET) in 20 patients with NMS and in 10 healthy controls. In most of the patients with NMS there was a lower [123I]IBZM binding in the striatal structures compared to controls. The results indicate that NMS is related to a decrease of central D2-receptor occupancy.
ISSN:0940-1334
DOI:10.1007/BF02191538