Abstract
It is believed that periodic limb movement (PLM) and more specifically, restless leg
syndrome (RLS), are a common cause of insomnia. And one study in the literature examined
PLM when associated to the use of estrogens. Polo-Kantola et al. [Polo-Kantola P,
Rauhala E, Erkkola R, Irjala K, Polo O. Estrogen replacement therapy and nocturnal
periodic limb movements: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol 2001;97(4):548–54]
observed that estrogen therapy improved subjective sleep quality regardless of periodic
limb movements or related arousals. Herein is a case of a symptomatic postmenopausal
patient with high PLM index who complained of insomnia and leg pain. Given that the
patient had hot flashes and a high Kupperman Menopausal Index (which evaluates climacteric
symptoms), we decided to administer transdermal ESTRADOT 25 μg (Novartis, Brazil) twice-a-week. Our patient experienced a significant decrease
in PLM as well as a great increase in REM and a slight increase in slow wave sleep
(stages 3 and 4), as shown in the polysomnography. The patient reported an overall
improvement in her condition.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 18, 2007
Accepted:
August 16,
2007
Received in revised form:
July 27,
2007
Received:
January 2,
2007
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
