title: Restless legs syndrome--new insights into clinical characteristics, pathophysiology, and treatment options.
abstract: We summarize recent advances in the clinical definition of restless legs syndrome (RLS), in understanding the basic mechanisms, and the successful treatments of RLS. New diagnostic instruments and severity scales have been developed for better phenotyping of the individual patient. Iron metabolism related components and the dopaminergic system have been extensively investigated in respect to the pathophysiology of RLS. The presence of mechanical hyperalgesia to pin-prick points towards an involvement of the nociceptive system. Genetic research has reported loci on chromosome 12q and 14q to play a role in the vulnerability to RLS. Placebo-controlled large-scale phase II and III treatment trials have shown that dopamine agonists are safe and efficacious agents for the treatment of this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Philipps University Marburg, Rudolf-Bultmann-Strasse 8, 35033 Marburg, Germany. stiasny@staff.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stiasny-Kolster
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trenkwalder
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fogel
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Greulich
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hahne
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lachenmayer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oechsner
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Oertel
mesh_terms: D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D019189:Iron Metabolism Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004298:Dopamine