Although periodic limb movements are prevalent among patients with epilepsy, the exact relationship between these movements and epilepsy remains elusive.

The aim of this work was to study the periodic limb movements among patients with genetic generalized epilepsy in relation to different clinical characteristics and seizure recurrence.

Sixty individuals participated in this study: 30 of them were newly diagnosed with genetic generalized epilepsy and 30 were healthy individuals. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire, and a standard polysomnographic study was conducted to all subjects. All patients then received sodium valproate in therapeutic doses and were followed up for 6 months. Electroencephalogram (EEG) was done after the follow-up period and seizure recurrence was assessed. Accordingly, patients were classified into three groups according to clinical seizure recurrence and follow-up EEG findings. Periodic limb movement index and frequency were compared among the patients’ groups and were correlated with different clinical characteristics.

Periodic limb movement index was highest among the group who were not controlled, followed by the partially controlled, then the controlled group. The difference between the three groups was statistically significant.

Periodic limb movement index was positively correlated with seizure recurrence and can be used as a predictor of seizure outcome.

The trial registration number (TRN) on clinicaltrials.gov is NCT03587506 , and the date of registration is July 16, 2018.