Signs of sympathetic and endothelial cell activation in the skin of patients with restless legs syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate skin biopsies of patients with early- and late onset restless legs syndrome (RLS) for concomitant small fiber neuropathy (SFN) and to determine cutaneous sympathetic innervation and microvascularization in comparison to healthy individuals.

Methods: Density of intraepidermal nerve fibers (IENFD), adrenergic nerve fibers and dermal capillaries was analyzed by immunofluorescence for PGP9.5, tyrosine hydroxylase and endothelial markers CD31 and CD105 in skin biopsies of 11 individuals with RLS and 8 age- and sex-matched controls.

Results: IENFD did not differ between RLS and controls, but two RLS patients with comorbid impaired glucose metabolism fulfilled morphometric criteria of SFN according to published normative values. In contrast, dermal nerve bundles of RLS patients showed an increased density of tyrosine hydroxylase⁺ adrenergic nerve fibers (p < 0.005). Moreover, an increased ratio between immature CD105⁺ and mature CD31⁺ endothelial cells within dermal capillaries was observed in RLS (p < 0.02).

Conclusions: SFN, as a potential contributing factor for RLS, should be considered in patients with predisposing comorbidities presenting with burning or shooting pain, dysesthesias and impaired sensory and temperature perception. Evidence of an increased adrenergic innervation of the skin in RLS patients is in accordance with sympathetic hyperactivity while signs of endothelial cell activation may reflect an adaptive response to tissue hypoxia.

Keywords: Peripheral hypoxia; Restless legs syndrome; Small fiber neuropathy; Sympathetic autonomic system; Tyrosine hydroxylase.