Periodic limb movement disorder

International classification of sleep disorders - third edition, text revision (ICSD-3-TR)[1]American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The AASM international classification of sleep disorders - third edition, text revision (ICSD-3-TR). 2023 [internet publication]. https://aasm.org/clinical-resources/international-classification-sleep-disorders

Criteria A-D must be met for a diagnosis of periodic limb movement disorder:

1. Polysomnography demonstrates periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS).

2. The frequency is >5/hour in children or >15/hour in adults.

3. The PLMS cause clinically significant sleep disturbance or impairment in mental, physical, social, occupational, educational, behavioural, or other important areas of functioning.

4. The PLMS and the symptoms are not better explained by another current sleep disorder, medical disorder, or mental disorder (e.g., PLMS occurring with apnoeas, hypopnoeas, and respiratory effort-related arousals [RERAs] should not be scored).

Technical aspects of conducting and scoring polysomnography are covered in the American Academy of Sleep Medicine manual for the scoring of sleep and associated events, and the World Association of Sleep Medicine 2016 standards for recording and scoring leg movements in polysomnograms.[3]Ferri R, Fulda S, Allen RP, et al. World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) 2016 standards for recording and scoring leg movements in polysomnograms developed by a joint task force from the International and the European Restless Legs Syndrome Study Groups (IRLSSG and EURLSSG). Sleep Med. 2016 Oct;26:86-95. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27890390?tool=bestpractice.com [27]American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The AASM manual for the scoring of sleep and associated events. 2023 [internet publication]. https://aasm.org/clinical-resources/scoring-manual