title: Periodic limb movements during sleep and their effect on the cardiovascular system: is there a final answer?
abstract: Periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) is a sleep-related movement disorder characterized by repetitive limb movements during sleep, seen predominantly in the legs but also occasionally involving the arms. These movements may be associated with arousals that can lead to increases in sympathetic tone, resulting in tachycardia and elevated systolic blood pressure. Chronic sustained tachycardia and elevated systolic blood pressure are known to be associated with the development of arrhythmias, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, and congestive heart failure. However, the data are not entirely clear on whether untreated PLMS is associated with these cardiovascular risks. This review examines the current evidence on whether PLMS has any effect on the cardiovascular system.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. Electronic address: nannapaneni.srikant@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Srikant
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nannapaneni
authors.affiliation: Center for Sleep Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Kannan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ramar
mesh_terms: D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020189:Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017286:Polysomnography; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Arrhythmias; Cardiovascular; Heart failure; Periodic limb movement disorder; Periodic limb movement during sleep; Periodic limb movement index; Periodic limb movements; Sleep