Restless legs syndrome and motor activity during sleep in spinocerebellar ataxia type 6.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the frequency of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and sleep disturbance in spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6).


METHODS
Five patients out of three multigenerational SCA6 families underwent a standardized investigation protocol including clinical interview for RLS, neurophysiological evaluation as well as the clinical assessment of ataxia. Polysomnography (PSG) was performed during two consecutive nights.


RESULTS
Two out of five patients fulfilled the clinical criteria for RLS. A periodic leg movements in sleep (PLMS) index>15/h was present in four of the five patients; a PLMS index>5/h was present in all patients. Significant disturbance of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep was not found. None of the patients had REM sleep behaviour disorder. Only one patient had mild REM sleep without atonia.


CONCLUSIONS
Our pilot study suggests only minor sleep abnormalities in SCA6.
Boesch
Sylvia M
SM
Clinical Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Frauscher
Birgit
B
Brandauer
Elisabeth
E
Wenning
Gregor K
GK
Poewe
Werner
W
Högl
Birgit
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020189:Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017286:Polysomnography; D015995:Prevalence; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology; D020754:Spinocerebellar Ataxias / Q000453:epidemiology*