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 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.
Staedt
J
J
Department of Psychiatry, University of Goettingen, Germany.
Stoppe
G
G
Kögler
A
A
Riemann
H
H
Hajak
G
G
Munz
D L
DL
Emrich
D
D
Rüther
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001665:Binding Sites; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014851:Wakefulness
D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2