Effects of acute dopamine-agonist treatment in restless legs syndrome on heart rate variability during sleep

The repetitive abnormal autonomic response to PLMS might play a role in the increased cardiovascular risk proposed for RLS patients. Pramipexole reduced the number of PLMS and the amplitude of the autonomic response to residual PLMS, without effects on the tonic sympathovagal regulation. D3 receptors in the sympathetic pre-ganglionic neurons of the spinal intermediolateral columns might be a target of pramipexole. The normalization of the HR response could be relevant in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and associated autonomic dysfunctions in patients with RLS.