Nocturnal myoclonus syndrome (periodic movements in sleep) related to central dopamine D2-receptor alteration.

Abstract

The nocturnal myoclonus syndrome (NMS) consists of stereotyped, repetitive jerks of the lower limbs that occur during sleep or wakefulness. NMS is often related with restless-legs syndrome (RLS) and can cause severe sleep disturbances and daytime sleepiness. The efficacy of dopamine agonists in the treatment points to a dopaminergic dysfunction in NMS. We investigated the central dopamine D2-receptor occupancy with [123I] labeled (S)-2-hydroxy-3-iodo-6-methoxy-([1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl]methyl) benzamide (IBZM) (a highly selective CNS D2 dopamine receptor ligand) ([123I]IBZM) and single photon emission tomography (SPET) in 20 patients with NMS and in 10 healthy controls. In most of the patients with NMS there was a lower [123I]IBZM binding in the striatal structures compared to controls. The results indicate that NMS is related to a decrease of central D2-receptor occupancy.

• Authors: J Staedt, G Stoppe, A Kögler, H Riemann, G Hajak, D L Munz, D Emrich, E Rüther
• Journal: European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience (Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci) Vol. 245 Issue 1 Pg. 8-10 ( 1995) ISSN: 0940-1334 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 7786913 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Receptors, Dopamine D2

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Binding Sites
• Circadian Rhythm
• Corpus Striatum (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Leg (physiopathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Myoclonus (complications, diagnosis, physiopathology)
• Receptors, Dopamine D2 (metabolism)
• Restless Legs Syndrome (complications)
• Sleep Wake Disorders (etiology)
• Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
• Wakefulness