title: Treatment of pediatric restless legs syndrome.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 1Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Louella B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Amos
authors.forename: Megan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Grekowicz
authors.forename: Evelyn M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: Jenna D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Olstad
authors.forename: Maureen M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Nan A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Norins
authors.forename: Lynn A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D010372:Pediatrics; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods; D000077487:Pramipexole; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000700:Analgesics; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000975:Antioxidants; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D007211:Indoles; C046649:ropinirole; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin; D000077487:Pramipexole; D007501:Iron; D008550:Melatonin; D003000:Clonidine
keywords: ferritin; iron; pediatric; restless legs syndrome; treatment