Update in restless legs syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Although restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a disorder recognized in the medical literature since the 17th century, there have only recently been significant clinical and scientific advances in diagnosis, epidemiology and understanding the disorder, mainly due to the advent of dopaminergic treatment.


RESULTS
Recent discoveries have uncovered the iron-dopamine connection in RLS and the basic dopaminergic pathology related to the RLS symptoms. These have led to new understanding of the morbidity of RLS and the many conditions associated with RLS, which have also supported new approaches to treatment. These developments are each briefly described here.


CONCLUSIONS
Although there has been progress in understanding, diagnosing and treating RLS, it remains an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition severely impairing functioning of patients with moderate-to-severe disease. Much work is needed to improve on current, as well as other novel therapies.
Salas
Rachel E
RE
Department of Neurology, Division of Pulmonary/Critical Care, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA. rsalas3@jhmi.edu
Gamaldo
Charlene E
CE
Allen
Richard P
RP
D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D019189:Iron Metabolism Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology