Willis-Ekbom DiseaseMIBG-RLSNCT02929732
Analysis of Sympathetic Activity in Willis-Ekbom Disease
A study testing Sympathetic nervous activity measurement in people with Willis-Ekbom Disease and Restless Legs Syndrome, run by University Hospital, Montpellier at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
Willis-Ekbom disease (WED), also known as restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological sensorimotor disorder that typically impairs sleep and quality of life, likely consequent to a central dopaminergic dysfunction associated to brain iron deficiency. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 74 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Willis-Ekbom Disease, Restless Legs Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Sympathetic nervous activity measurement
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 21 Mar 2017to 5 Oct 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 74 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Non-specific inclusion criteria (CASE + CONTROL)
- 18 years-old or more, and less than 75 years-old
- French-speaking
- able to understand the study
- signed written informed consent
- affiliated to social security
Show all 12Show fewer
- CASE-specific inclusion criteria
- 5 " International RLS Study Group (IRLSSG) 2012 " positive criteria
- RLS severity scale (IRLS) score ≥ 15
- ferritin > 50 ng/ml
- periodic limb movements index > 10/hour
- idiopathic (or primary) Willis-Ekbom disease not treated with dopaminergic agonists or pregabalin or gabapentin in the last 8 days, at least 3 years of disease duration with symptoms recurring at least 3 times a week
Who cannot join
- Non-specific exclusion criteria (CASE + CONTROL)
- vulnerable subject : subject deprived of liberty or protected by law (trusteeship, legal guardianship), pregnant or breastfeeding woman
- malignant neoplastic disease treated in the last 12 months
- medical history of cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, heart failure, stroke, hypertension, sleep apnea syndrome)
- antidepressant, neuroleptic, sympathomimetic, sympatholytic, vasculotropic, dopamine agonists, opiate treatments
- CASE-specific exclusion criteria
- restless legs syndrome secondary to renal failure, hemochromatosis, neurologic disorders, iatrogenesis
- CONTROL-specific exclusion criteria - Willis-Ekbom Disease
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
France1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University Hospital of Montpellier
Montpellier, 34295
Yves Dauvilliers, PhD, +33467336361, y-dauvilliers@chu-montpellier.fr
About this study
Willis-Ekbom disease (WED), also known as restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological sensorimotor disorder that typically impairs sleep and quality of life, likely consequent to a central dopaminergic dysfunction associated to brain iron deficiency. Periodic limb movements (PLMS) in sleep are present in 80% of patients with WED. PLMS are often associated with micro-arousals that contribute to sleep fragmentation and repeated increases of blood pressure and heart rate throughout the night, thus representing an increased risk for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
Willis-Ekbom disease affects people with higher cardiovascular risk factors, such as advanced age, obesity, diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia. However, previous observational, cross-sectional or longitudinal population-based studies on the association between RLS and CVD and hypertension showed controversial results.
Read more
While the pathophysiology of RLS is yet to be elucidated and is likely multifactorial, one theory involves a reduction in dopaminergic outflow to the preganglionic sympathetic neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Dopamine inhibits preganglionic sympathetic neurons, therefore a reduction in dopamine may in turn increase sympathetic outflow.
Based on this notion, the investigators hypothesize an increase of sympathetic autonomic activity in Willis-Ekbom disease responsible for the recurrent increase in blood pressure and heart rate during sleep, which may play a role in increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The aim of this study is to analyze the autonomic nervous activity in patients with WED compared to healthy volunteers controls. The investigators will measure primarily the cardiac sympathetic activity by the 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) scintigraphy and secondarily the sympathetic nerve activity by the plasmatic pro inflammatory biomarkers and urinary catecholamine levels and the circadian variation of blood pressure and heart rate as assessed by the 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
- Conditions
- Willis-Ekbom Disease, Restless Legs Syndrome
- Being tested
- Sympathetic nervous activity measurement
- Medical subject headings
- Restless Legs Syndrome
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Sympathetic nervous activity measurementOther
Polysomnography, MIBG myocardic scintigraphy, and 24h blood pressure measurement
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Willis-Ekbom disease patients (CASE) | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Sympathetic nervous activity measurement |
| Healthy volunteers (CONTROL) | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Sympathetic nervous activity measurement |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Cardiac sympathetic activity measurement by the 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) scintigraphy. Analysis of 123I-MIBG uptake based on the ratio heart/mediastinum
Measured: Day 0
Secondary outcomes (4)
Cardiac sympathetic activity measurement by the 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) scintigraphy. Analysis of 123I-MIBG washout.
Measured: Day 0
Analysis of circadian variations of blood pressure and heart rate assessed by the 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
Measured: Day 0
Measurement of pro inflammatory biomarkers and urinary catecholamines levels
Measured: Day 0
5) Analysis of mean increases of blood pressure and heart rate based on sleep stages, micro-arousals, periodic limb movements and sleep apnoeas as measured by continuous non-invasive blood pressure monitoring
Measured: Day 0
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Oct 2016 (estimated)
- Study start21 Mar 2017
- Primary completion5 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion5 Oct 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Willis-Ekbom DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University Hospital, MontpellierThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, Montpellier
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02929732
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RECHMPL16_0056
- Acronym
- MIBG-RLS
- Status last verified
- Sep 2025
- First submitted
- 7 Oct 2016
- Last updated
- 2 Oct 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Oct 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Analysis of Sympathetic Activity in Willis-Ekbom Disease
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02929732
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MIBG-RLS / RECHMPL16_0056
- Conditions
- Willis-Ekbom Disease, Restless Legs Syndrome
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, MontpellierUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 21 Mar 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 5 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 5 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 11 Oct 2016 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Willis-Ekbom disease (WED), also known as restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological sensorimotor disorder that typically impairs sleep and quality of life, likely consequent to a central dopaminergic dysfunction associated to brain iron deficiency. Periodic limb movements (PLMS) in sleep are present in 80% of patients with WED. PLMS are often associated with micro-arousals that contribute to sleep fragmentation and repeated increases of blood pressure and heart rate throughout the night, thus representing an increased risk for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
Willis-Ekbom disease affects people with higher cardiovascular risk factors, such as advanced age, obesity, diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia. However, previous observational, cross-sectional or longitudinal population-based studies on the association between RLS and CVD and hypertension showed controversial results.
While the pathophysiology of RLS is yet to be elucidated and is likely multifactorial, one theory involves a reduction in dopaminergic outflow to the preganglionic sympathetic neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Dopamine inhibits preganglionic sympathetic neurons, therefore a reduction in dopamine may in turn increase sympathetic outflow.
Based on this notion, the investigators hypothesize an increase of sympathetic autonomic activity in Willis-Ekbom disease responsible for the recurrent increase in blood pressure and heart rate during sleep, which may play a role in increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The aim of this study is to analyze the autonomic nervous activity in patients with WED compared to healthy volunteers controls. The investigators will measure primarily the cardiac sympathetic activity by the 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) scintigraphy and secondarily the sympathetic nerve activity by the plasmatic pro inflammatory biomarkers and urinary catecholamine levels and the circadian variation of blood pressure and heart rate as assessed by the 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Willis-Ekbom disease patients (CASE) | Experimental | Other: Sympathetic nervous activity measurement |
| Healthy volunteers (CONTROL) | Experimental | Other: Sympathetic nervous activity measurement |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 74 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (12 listed)
- Non-specific inclusion criteria (CASE + CONTROL)
- CASE-specific inclusion criteria
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Non-specific exclusion criteria (CASE + CONTROL)
- CASE-specific exclusion criteria
- CONTROL-specific exclusion criteria - Willis-Ekbom Disease
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Sympathetic nervous activity measurementPolysomnography, MIBG myocardic scintigraphy, and 24h blood pressure measurement | Other | Healthy volunteers (CONTROL), Willis-Ekbom disease patients (CASE) |
Primary outcome
Cardiac sympathetic activity measurement by the 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) scintigraphy. Analysis of 123I-MIBG uptake based on the ratio heart/mediastinum
Time frame: Day 0
4 secondary outcomes
Cardiac sympathetic activity measurement by the 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) scintigraphy. Analysis of 123I-MIBG washout.
Time frame: Day 0
Analysis of circadian variations of blood pressure and heart rate assessed by the 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
Time frame: Day 0
Measurement of pro inflammatory biomarkers and urinary catecholamines levels
Time frame: Day 0
5) Analysis of mean increases of blood pressure and heart rate based on sleep stages, micro-arousals, periodic limb movements and sleep apnoeas as measured by continuous non-invasive blood pressure monitoring
Time frame: Day 0
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Oct 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Sympathetic nervous activity measurement in people with Willis-Ekbom Disease and Restless Legs Syndrome, run by University Hospital, Montpellier at 1 site in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 12 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Oct 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Cardiac sympathetic activity measurement by the 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) scintigraphy. Analysis of 123I-MIBG uptake based on the ratio heart/mediastinum (time frame: Day 0). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Oct 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.