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Updated: Jul 25, 2025

Induction and Assessment of Levodopa-induced Dyskinesias in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
Published on: October 14, 2021
Restless Legs Syndrome in Parkinson's Disease
Ştefania Diaconu1,2, Laura Irincu1,2, Larisa Ungureanu1,2
1Department of Neurology, County Clinic Hospital, 500365 Braşov, Romania.
Background:
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) might worsen sleep quality and quality of life in people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD).
Objective:
The main aim of the present study is to explore the associations between RLS and sleep, quality of life and other non-motor symptoms (NMS) in a sample of PwPD.
Methods:
We compared the clinical features of 131 PwPD with and without RLS, in a cross-sectional study. We used several validated scales for assessment: the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group rating scale (IRLS), Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale version 2 (PDSS-2), Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire (NMSQ) and International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Non-Motor Rating Scale (MDS-NMS).
Results:
Thirty-five patients (26.71%) out of the total PwPD met the RLS diagnostic criteria, without significant differences between male (57.14%) and female (42.87%) (p = 0.431). Higher total scores of PDSS-2 were recorded among PwPD + RLS (p < 0.001), suggesting worse sleep quality. Significant correlations were observed between the diagnosis of RLS and some types of pain (especially nocturnal pain), physical fatigue and probable sleep-disordered breathing, according to the MDS-NMSS assessment.
Conclusions:
RLS has a high frequency in PwPD and it requires proper management, considering its consequences on sleep and quality of life.
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