title: Postural control in restless legs syndrome with medication intervention using pramipexole.
abstract: Central dopamine regulation is involved in postural control and in the pathophysiology of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Postural control abnormalities have been detected in PD, but there are no earlier studies with regard to RLS and postural control. Computerized force platform posturography was applied to measure the shift and the velocity (CPFV) of center point of forces (CPF) with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) in controls (n = 12) and prior and after a single day intervention with pramipexole in RLS subjects (n = 12). CPFV (EO) was significantly lower in the RLS group (p < 0.05) than in controls. After pramipexole intake, the difference disappeared and the subjective symptom severity diminished. Pramipexole did not significantly influence CPFV (EC) or CPF shift direction. Subjects with RLS used extensively visual mechanisms to control vestibule-spinal reflexes to improve or compensate the postural stability. Further research is needed to clarify altered feedback in the central nervous system and involvement of dopamine and vision in the postural control in RLS.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Psychiatry, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 30, 00271, Helsinki, Finland, aulikki.ahlgren@fimnet.fi.
authors.forename: Aulikki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahlgrén-Rimpiläinen
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lauerma
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kähkönen
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aalto
authors.forename: Katinka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tuisku
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holi
authors.forename: Ilmari
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pyykkö
authors.forename: Ilpo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rimpiläinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009038:Motion; D011187:Posture; D000077487:Pramipexole; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014785:Vision, Ocular; D014796:Visual Perception
chemical_list: D052160:Benzothiazoles; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D000077487:Pramipexole