Ann Neurol Surg | Volume 2, Issue 1 | Mini Review | Open Access
Maria Sokratous1, Christoforos D. Giannaki2, Georgios K. Sakkas3, Georgia Xiromerisiou1,
Ioannis Stefanidis4 and Georgios M. Hadjigeorgiou1
Department of Neurology, University of Thessaly, Greece
University of Nicosia School of Sciences and Engineering, Cyprus
University of St Mark and St John, United Kingdom
Department of Nephrology, University of Thessaly, Greece
*Correspondance to: Georgios M. Hadjigeorgiou,
Fulltext PDFRestless Leg Syndrome (RLS)/Willis-Ekbom Disease (WED) is a common sensimotor disorder,
characterized by uncontrolled urge to move the extremities along with uncomfortable sensations,
especially at night and in periods of inactivity, leading to deprivation of sleep. A growing number of
case-reports and recent studies have reported a high prevalence of RLS/WED in Spinal Cord Injury
(SCI) patients. The underlying mechanism is not fully known. The main proposed mechanisms
include the stimulation of a Central Pattern Generator (CPG), disruption of the dopaminergic tract
and neuroplasticity changes. The purpose of the present review is to elucidate the current knowledge
concerning the prevalence of RLS/WED in SCI patients and the pathophysiology with up to date
information.
Restless leg syndrome; Periodic limb movements; Sleep disorder; Hyperexcitability
Sokratous M, Giannaki CD, Sakkas GK, Xiromerisiou G, Stefanidis I, Hadjigeorgiou GM. Interrogating the
Prevalence of Restless Leg Syndrome in Spinal Cord Injury Patients. Ann Neurol Surg. 2018; 2(1): 1010 .