Unilateral Periodic Limb Movement in Sleep after Ischemic Brain Stroke: A Case Report

Various types of abnormal movements such as pain, cramp, jerk, creeping, or itching may occur during sleep, many of which often involve the legs. In this study, we reported a case of periodic limb movement in sleep (PLMS) in the setting of a neurological disease.

We report a patient with involuntary left leg movements during sleep. The patient developed this prob-lem after an ischemic brain stroke that involved right temporal and basal ganglia. The patient underwent an overnight polysomnography (PSG) for the diagnosis of PLMS.

Although we do not know the exact pathogenesis of PLMS, it has been proposed that the brain lesions might cause PLMS. The present case provided evidence to support that brain lesions could be considered as a cause of unilateral PLMS.