eMedicine Specialties > Neurology > Sleep-Related Diseases
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder: Differential Diagnoses & Workup
Updated: Aug 26, 2009
- Overview
- Differential Diagnoses & Workup
- Treatment & Medication
- Follow-up
Differential Diagnoses
Other Problems to Be Considered
Anemia
Back pain
Benign epilepsy syndromes
Iron deficiency
Myoclonic epilepsy
Myoclonus
Paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis
Sleep apnea
Spinal injury
Workup
Laboratory Studies
- Because anemia, uremia, and the use of tricyclic antidepressant, antidopaminergic, or dopaminergic medications can lead to a secondary form of periodic limb movement disorder, laboratory screening studies should be obtained to rule out anemia or significant metabolic abnormalities.
- A urine drug screen may be appropriate.
Other Tests
Sleep laboratory
- Definitive diagnosis requires polysomnography.
- Observation in a sleep laboratory allows documentation of the movements and rapid diagnosis.
- Variability from night to night occurs in both adults and children with documented periodic limb movement disorder.9
More on Periodic Limb Movement Disorder |
| Overview: Periodic Limb Movement Disorder |
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Periodic Limb Movement Disorder |
| Treatment & Medication: Periodic Limb Movement Disorder |
| Follow-up: Periodic Limb Movement Disorder |
| References |
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References
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Iriarte J, Urrestarazu E, Alegre M, et al. Oscillatory cortical changes during periodic limb movements. Sleep. Dec 15 2004;27(8):1493-8. [Medline].
Mello MT, Silva AC, Rueda AD, et al. Correlation between K complex, periodic leg movements (PLM), and myoclonus during sleep in paraplegic adults before and after an acute physical activity. Spinal Cord. Apr 1997;35(4):248-52. [Medline].
Ulfberg J, Jonsson R, Lindberg E, et al. [Restless legs. A much neglected syndrome]. Lakartidningen. Mar 10 1999;96(10):1183-4, 1187-8. [Medline].
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Wetter TC, Pollmacher T. Restless legs and periodic leg movements in sleep syndromes. J Neurol. Apr 1997;244(4 Suppl 1):S37-45. [Medline].
Further Reading
Keywords
periodic limb movement disorder, PLM, restless leg syndrome, RLS, nocturnal myoclonus, sleep disorders, PLMS, periodic limb movements during sleep, ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, PLM disorder, diabetes mellitus, spinal cord tumor, sleep apnea syndrome, narcolepsy, uremia, anemia, sleep disturbances, sleep apnea
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Periodic Limb Movement Disorder