Contralateral Periodic Limb Movement during Sleep after Ischemic Stroke in the Globus Pallidus

Abstract

Periodic limb movement during sleep (PLMS) occurs most prevalently in the restless legs syndrome (RLS), but it can also co-occur with various medical and neurological disorders, including cerebrovascular stroke. Previously reported cases of PLMS following ischemic stroke exhibited different clinical manifestations according to the lesion site. These cases of PLMS were associated with motor weakness with or without RLS. A 53-year-old male patient presented with dysarthria without other limb motor weakness after the right globus pallidus infarction. Overnight video-polysomnography revealed newly developed PLMS in the left leg without symptoms of RLS. This case indicates that the globus pallidus could be involved in the pathophysiology of PLMS without RLS.