Periodic limb movement disorders and spells of profound muscle weakness due to airborne and dietary factors in humans.
Periodic limb movement disorders and the restless legs syndrome, generally considered to be sleep disorders, have a combined prevalence of almost 10% of the general population and are more common in women than in men. Although reduced dopamine activity in central nervous system motor control pathways seems to play a role, little, other than a list of associated risk factors, is known about the conditions that initiate the episodes. We report three patients, two teenage girls and one female teacher, who developed periodic limb movement disorders associated with high mold counts in a classroom and the gymnasium in the girls' school, and in the ventilating system in the teacher's school. Their disorders occurred when they attended their schools and cleared when they did not. These findings, combined with an earlier report of three cases where the disordered movements were triggered by dietary factors, suggest that in some patients, periodic limb movement disorders may be induced by inhalant as well as by dietary factors. Although these 6 patients may represent a subgroup of people with periodic limb movement disorders, potential dietary and environmental triggers should be considered in the clinical evaluation of patients seeking treatment for periodic limb movement disorders.
Gerrard
John W
JW
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
Richardson
J Steven
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
D015386:Hazardous Substances