Ricerc@Sapienza

Study Objectives To define statistically the upper limit of the intermovement interval (IMI, the time interval between the onset of consecutive movements) of periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS). Methods We computed the IMI distribution of a large sample (n = 141) of patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) and analyzed it with two independent approaches, based on fitting either empirical functions or normal and exponential functions to the data. Results The two fitting approaches consistently pointed to an upper limit of the PLMS IMI in the range between 50 and 60 s.

To evaluate leg movement activity during sleep (LMS) in normal school-age children and adolescents, to eventually establish age-specific periodic LMS (PLMS) index thresholds that support the diagnosis of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and to evaluate the utility of other LMS indices.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is not uncommon in children with an estimated prevalence of 2%. There is clear evidence that RLS affects quality of life, sleep, cognition and behavior in children and adults. Although the diagnosis of RLS can be challenging in young children, the International Restless Legs Study Group (IRLSSG) has published guidelines for diagnosis which include description of symptoms in the child's own words. Once the diagnosis is made, treatment options must be explored. It is commonly accepted that non-pharmacological interventions be recommended to all affected families.

The objective of this observational cohort study was to analyse the age-related changes of periodic leg movements during sleep using the newest international scoring rules, to expand past analyses, including patients in the paediatric age range, and also to analyse the changes of short-interval and isolated leg movements during sleep throughout the lifespan.

Children with "restless sleep disorder" (RSD) were previously identified clinically and polysomnographically. In this study we attempt to characterize their sleep-related movements and describe them in terms of type of movement, duration and timing.