The prevalence of periodic limb movements during sleep in men with erectile dysfunction

Abstract

Periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) is a disorder in which there are repetitive, stereotypic movements of the iimbs, typically the lower extremities. Other names for PLMS include nocturnal myocionus and periodic movement in sleep. Prevalence estimates of PLMS among patients evaluated at sleep disorders centers range from 3% to 26% (Coleman 1982). Schmidt and associates were the first to note a high prevalence of PLMS among men with erectile dysfunction (Schmidt and Wise 1981). In a subsequent study of 100 men, they found mild to severe PLMS in 60% af men with organic or probable organic impotence (Schmidt et al. 198 11, The authors noted that few patients had any sleep-related symptoms. The association between impotence and PLMS has been confirmed by others. In one study, FLMS was found in 10 of 31 ~m~tent men (Pressman et al. 1985). fn ano~er, 9 of 18 men with organic impotence had PLMS, whereas only I of 14 men with adequate deeprelated tumescence had PLMS (Kavey et al. 1987). notwithstanding repeated findings of PLMS