Effects of STN DBS for Parkinson’s disease on restless legs syndrome and other sleep-related measures

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) and other sleep abnormalities are common in Parkinson’s Disease (PD). We prospectively examined sleep measures in PD patients undergoing subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS). An RLS questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS) were administered through telephone interviews preoperatively and postoperatively. Seventeen patients were included. Mean preoperative and 4 weeks postoperative ESS scores were 11.6 and 6.4 respectively (p < 0.001) and PDSS scores were 94.2 and 122.9 respectively (p < 0.001). The improvement was sustained at 6 months. Six patients were diagnosed with RLS preoperatively. Mean preoperative International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group rating scale score was 23.0. Mean 4 week and 6 month postoperative IRLSSG rating scale scores were 14.8 and 13.8 respectively, significantly improved compared to preoperative scores (p = 0.027 and p = 0.037 respectively). No patients developed new-onset RLS postoperatively. STN DBS improves daytime sleepiness, sleep quality, and RLS.