Treatment of pediatric restless legs syndrome. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2014 Apr;53(4):331-6
Date
11/08/2013Pubmed ID
24198314DOI
10.1177/0009922813507997Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84896766323 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 35 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: The primary aim was to determine if iron supplementation effectively treats children with restless legs syndrome (RLS), the time to improvement or resolution of symptoms, and patient characteristics (family history of RLS, secondary sleep disorders, medical diagnoses, and/or mental health diagnoses) that may affect outcome. METHODS.: This was a retrospective chart review of children between 5 and 18 years old who were diagnosed with RLS at the pediatric sleep disorders clinic at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Documented RLS treatment approaches included supplemental iron, nonpharmacologic interventions, melatonin, gabapentin, clonidine, and dopamine agonists (pramipexole and ropinirole).
RESULTS: Ninety-seven children were diagnosed with RLS; 60.8% of children were between 5 and 11 years old. Most children (65%) received iron either as monotherapy or in combination with other treatments. Approximately 80% of the children who received iron and had follow-up had improvement or resolution of their symptoms. The median baseline ferritin level was 22.7 ng/mL, and 71% of children had a ferritin level less than 30 ng/mL. The median time to improvement or resolution of symptoms was 3.8 months.
CONCLUSIONS: Supplemental iron as monotherapy or in combination with other treatments is effective in treating pediatric RLS. A prospective study could help determine if the initial ferritin level and degree of change in the ferritin level impact response to iron treatment. It is also important to study the long-term outcomes in these patients.
Author List
Amos LB, Grekowicz ML, Kuhn EM, Olstad JD, Collins MM, Norins NA, D'Andrea LAAuthors
Louella B. Amos MD Associate Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinLynn A. D Andrea MD Chief, Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Megan L. Grekowicz NP APP Mgr Outpatient in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAmines
Analgesics
Anticonvulsants
Antioxidants
Benzothiazoles
Child
Child, Preschool
Clonidine
Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
Dopamine Agonists
Drug Therapy, Combination
Female
Humans
Indoles
Iron
Male
Melatonin
Mental Disorders
Pediatrics
Polysomnography
Restless Legs Syndrome
Retrospective Studies
Sleep Wake Disorders
Treatment Outcome
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
