Periodic limb movements and insomnia, a common but under-recognized association
Saravanan Varadharajulu1, Baskaran Chandrasekaran2
1Senior Sleep Technologist, Neurofoundation, RS Puram, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract:
Periodic limb movements unlike restless leg syndrome is under diagnosed and unrecognized in medical arena. While robust Western trials have elucidated the association between periodic limb movements and sleep disturbances, it is not well received and recognized in India even in well sophisticated tertiary care hospital. We report a chronic insomnia patient who had sleep disturbances for past 30 years due to periodic limb movements alone. This was diagnosed through polysomnography. This case emphasizes monitoring leg movements during sleep study. This report may open new horizons in improving monitoring in sleep study in clinical setting.
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