title: Persistence of repetitive EEG arousals (K-alpha complexes) in RLS patients treated with L-DOPA.
abstract: Compared to normal control subjects, patients with primary restless legs syndrome (RLS) have an increased number of K-complexes, followed by bursts of electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha activity-together these are referred to as K-alpha complexes. In the present study, a large proportion of K-alpha complexes was found to be temporally associated with periodic leg movements in sleep. Because many K-alpha complexes precede the onset of movements, they cannot be considered secondary to the movements themselves. The persistence of K-alpha complexes after suppression of leg movements by means of L-DOPA further supports the hypothesis that these EEG events are a primary phenomenon. The results may have clinical implications because a large proportion of RLS patients complain of non-restorative sleep even after treatment with L-DOPA.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'étude du sommeil, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montplaisir
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gosselin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poirier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lavigne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010507:Periodicity; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa