Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2008.51.11.1222

A case of restless legs syndrome in a child presenting with growing pains  

Kim, Dong Soon (Department of Pediatrics, Eulji General Hospital, School of Medicine, Eulji University)
Shin, Hong Beom (Komoki Sleep Center)
Ahn, Young Min (Department of Pediatrics, Eulji General Hospital, School of Medicine, Eulji University)
Publication Information
Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics / v.51, no.11, 2008 , pp. 1222-1227 More about this Journal
Abstract
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological sleep disorder in adults characterized by the following diagnostic criteria: an urge to move that is usually associated with unpleasant sensations and symptoms that are worse at rest, relieved by movement, and most severe at night. The definite diagnosis of RLS in children is stricter and consists of self-description of leg discomfort or the presence of 2 of 3 supportive criteria combined with 4 essential criteria for diagnosis in adults. RLS in childhood has often been misdiagnosed as growing pains or a part of normal development. As a result, physicians have often missed the chance for proper management. We diagnosed a case of RLS in a 5-year-old boy presenting with growing pains, whose mother was found to have had RLS since childhood. We confirmed RLS by using a polysomnograph, in which the indices of periodic limb movement syndrome (PLMS) and periodic limb movement during wakefulness (PLMW) were recorded to be compatible with RLS criteria. The patient's ferritin level was low normal, and his symptoms improved after taking iron supplements.
Keywords
Restless legs syndrome; Growing pains; Iron deficiency anemia; Ferritin; Polysomnograph;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Cortes S, Konofal E, Lecendreux M, Arnulf I, Mouren MC, Darra F, Dalla BB. Restless legs syndrome and attentiondeficit/ hyperactivity disorder: a review of the literature. Sleep 2005;28:1007-13   DOI
2 Sun ER, Chen CA, Ho G, Earley CJ, Allen RP. Iron and the restless legs syndrome. Sleep 1998;21:371-7
3 Comella CL. Restless legs syndrome: treatment with dopaminergic agents. Neurology 2002;58 Suppl 1:S87-92   DOI   ScienceOn
4 Michaud M, Poirier G, Lavigne G, Montplaisir J. Restless legs syndrome: scoring criteria for leg movements recorded during the suggested immobilization test. Sleep Med 2001; 2:317-21   DOI   ScienceOn
5 Nathan JB, Thornton BA. Restless legs syndrome: what is a pediatrician to do? Pediatrics 2007;120:438-9   DOI   ScienceOn
6 Allen RP, Earley CJ. Restless legs syndrome: A review of clinical and pathophysiologic features. J Clin Neurophysiol 2001;18:128-47   DOI   ScienceOn
7 O'Keeffe S, Gavin K, Lavan J. Iron status and restless legs syndrome in the elderly. Age Aging 1994;23:200-3   DOI   ScienceOn
8 Kotagal S, Silber M. Childhood-onset restless legs syndrome. Ann Neurol 2004;56:803-7   DOI   ScienceOn
9 Rajaram S, Walters A, England S, Mehta D, Nizam F. Some children with growing pains may actually have restless legs syndrome. Sleep 2004;27:767-73
10 Michaud M. Is the suggested immobilization test the "gold standard" to assess restless legs syndrome? Sleep Med 2006;7:541-3   DOI   ScienceOn
11 Allen RP, Piccietti D, Hening WA, Trenkwalder C, Walters AS, Montplaisi J. Restless legs syndrome: diagnostic criteria, special considerations, and epidemiology. Sleep Med 2003;4:101-19   DOI   ScienceOn
12 Montplaisir J, Boucher S, Poirier G, Lavigne G, Lapierr O, Lesperance. Clinical, polysomnographic, and genetic characteristics of restless legs syndrome: a study of 133 patients diagnosed with new standard criteria. Mov Disord 1997;12: 61-5   DOI   ScienceOn
13 Stefansson H, Rye DB, Hicks A, Pertursson H, Petursson H, Ingason A, Thorgeirsson TE, et al. A genetic risk factor for periodic limb movements in sleep. N Engl J Med 2007; 357:639-47   DOI   ScienceOn
14 Mizuno S, Mihara T, Miyaoka T, Inagaki T, Horiguchi J. CSF iron, ferritin and transferrin level in restless legs syndrome. J Sleep Res 2005;14:43-7   DOI   ScienceOn
15 Maheswaran M. Restless legs syndrome in children. MedGenMed 2006;8:79
16 Walters AS. Is there a subpopulation of children with growing pains who really have restless legs syndrome? Sleep Med 2002;3:938
17 Brodeur C, Montplaisir J, Godbout R, Marinier R. Treatment of restless legs syndrome and periodic movements during sleep with L-dopa: a double-blind, controlled study. Neurology 1988;38:1845-8   DOI
18 Evans AM, Scutter SD. Prevalence of growing pains in young children. J Pediatr 2004;145:255-8   DOI   ScienceOn
19 Picchietti D, Allen RP, Walters AS, Davidson JE, Myers A, Ferini-Strambi L. Restless legs syndrome: prevalence and impact in children and adolescents. Pediatrics 2007;120:253-66   DOI   ScienceOn
20 Kim DY, Lee IK, Kim SY, Oh MH, Kim YC. A case of idiopathic restless legs syndrome in a child. J Korean Child Neurol Soc 2004;12:247-51