title: Restless legs syndrome as a first manifestation of a cerebral infarct.
abstract: The onset of restless legs syndrome (RLS) is usually progressive and the neural substrates underlying its pathophysiology remain to be identified. Here we report on a patient presenting with acute-onset RLS that was symptomatic of a right anteromedial pontine infarction. This case is exceptional because RLS appeared several hours before the occurrence of a regressive dysarthria clumsy-hand syndrome. Additionally, millimetric MRI sections showed that the structures possibly involved in RLS pathogenesis were the corticospinal tract, the pontine nuclei, and the pontocerebellar fibers. Although this is uncommon, clinicians should be aware that RLS characterized by a sudden onset can be a clinical manifestation related to stroke.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruppert
authors.forename: Ulker
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kilic-Huck
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tatu
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghobadi
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bataillard
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bourgin
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: RLS; RLS pathophysiology; periodic limb movements; pontine anteromedial infarction; pontine stroke; restless legs syndrome