Arm restlessness as the initial symptom in restless legs syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Upper extremity symptoms can develop in restless legs syndrome, but are rarely the initial symptom.


OBJECTIVE
To report a case of restless legs syndrome with restless arms as the initial symptom, and to review the literature.


METHODS
Case report and literature review.


METHODS
A 78-year-old man had arm restlessness and sleep disturbance. A polysomnogram demonstrated subclinical periodic leg movements 1 year after the onset of his symptoms.


RESULTS
Two years later, he developed lower extremity symptoms that fit the criteria for restless legs syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first case of restless legs syndrome with arm restlessness as the initial symptom in an otherwise neurologically normal person.


CONCLUSIONS
Restless legs syndrome may initially exhibit upper extremity symptoms.
Freedom
Thomas
T
Department of Neurology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA. tfreedo@lumc.edu
Merchut
Michael P
MP
D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000294:innervation*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology