RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A review of current treatment strategies for restless legs syndrome (Willis–Ekbom disease)
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 520
OP 524
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.14-5-520
VO 14
IS 5
A1 Lisa Klingelhoefer
A1 Ilaria Cova
A1 Sheena Gupta
A1 Kallol Ray Chaudhuri
YR 2014
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/14/5/520.abstract
AB Restless legs syndrome (RLS), recently renamed Willis–Ekbom disease (WED), is a common movement disorder. It is characterised by the need to move mainly the legs due to uncomfortable, sometimes painful sensations in the legs, which have a diurnal variation and a release with movement. Management is complex. First, centres should establish the severity of RLS using a simple 10-item RLS severity rating scale (IRLS). They should also exclude secondary causes, in particular ensuring normal iron levels. Mild cases can be managed by lifestyle changes, but patients with a IRLS score above 15 usually require pharmacological treatment. Dopaminergic therapies remain the mainstay of medical therapies, with recent evidence suggesting opioids may be particularly effective. This article focuses on the different treatment strategies in RLS, their associated complications and ways to manage them.