title: European guidelines on management of restless legs syndrome: report of a joint task force by the European Federation of Neurological Societies, the European Neurological Society and the European Sleep Research Society.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since the publication of the first European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) guidelines in 2005 on the management of restless legs syndrome (RLS; also known as Willis-Ekbom disease), there have been major therapeutic advances in the field. Furthermore, the management of RLS is now a part of routine neurological practice in Europe. New drugs have also become available, and further randomized controlled trials have been undertaken. These guidelines were undertaken by the EFNS in collaboration with the European Neurological Society and the European Sleep Research Society.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide an evidence-based update of new treatments published since 2005 for the management of RLS.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, we determined what the objectives of management of primary and secondary RLS should be. We developed the search strategy and conducted a review of the scientific literature up to 31 December 2011 (print and electronic publications) for the drug classes and interventions employed in RLS treatment. Previous guidelines were consulted. All trials were analysed according to class of evidence, and recommendations made according to the 2004 EFNS criteria for rating.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Level A recommendations can be made for rotigotine, ropinirole, pramipexole, gabapentin enacarbil, gabapentin and pregabalin, which are all considered effective for the short-term treatment for RLS. However, for the long-term treatment for RLS, rotigotine is considered effective, gabapentin enacarbil is probably effective, and ropinirole, pramipexole and gabapentin are considered possibly effective. Cabergoline has according to our criteria a level A recommendation, but the taskforce cannot recommend this drug because of its serious adverse events.
authors.affiliation: Sleep Research Institute, Madrid, Spain. dgb@iis.es
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garcia-Borreguero
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferini-Strambi
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kohnen
authors.forename: Shaun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Keeffe
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trenkwalder
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Högl
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Benes
authors.forename: Poul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jennum
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Partinen
authors.forename: Danyal
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fer
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montagna
authors.forename: Claudio L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bassetti
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iranzo
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sonka
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*