NIGHTLY MYOCLONUS SYNDROME (NMS) AND REST LESS LEGS SYNDROME (RLS) - REVIEW AND CASE-REPORT

The paper gives a brief review of the existing literature concerning t he nocturnal myoclonus syndrome (NMS). The clinical symptomatology, cr iteria for differential diagnosis and the relation to the restless leg s syndrome (RLS) are discussed. Recently we investigated central dopam ine receptor density with I-123-labeled 3'-iodo-6-methoxybenzamide (IB ZM) (a highly selective CNS D2 dopamine receptor ligand) and single ph oton emission tomography (SPECT) in patients with NMS and found a redu ced density of dopamine D2-receptors in the striatal structures, indic ating a dopaminergic dysfunction in NMS and RLS. We present a report c oncerning a 58-year old female with NMS-associated insomnia and presen t IBZM SPECTs and hypnograms before and after a 3-month treatment with L-dopa and discuss the results with regard to pathophysiological theo ries.