Impaired vascular endothelial function in patients with restless legs syndrome: a new aspect of the vascular pathophysiology

摘要

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common sleep disorder in which patients feel unpleasant leg sensations and the urge to move their legs during rest, particularly at night. Leg movement improves these symptoms. Although several studies have demonstrated an association between cardiovascular disease and RLS, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. Recent studies have shown changes in the peripheral microvasculature, including altered blood flow and capillary tortuosity, and peripheral hypoxia. Vascular endothelial dysfunction can be assessed noninvasively with ultrasound measurements of brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). Therefore, this study investigated FMD in RLS patients to determine the involvement of microvascular alterations in this disorder.