• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.101-103
• /
• 2008

Many neurologists, particularly whose subspecialty is in peripheral neurology, may agree that patients with peripheral neuropathy often complain of the "restless legs" symptoms. These symptoms seem to share the typical features of the so-called "restless legs syndrome (RLS)", i.e., unpleasant sensations in the leg/feet, worsening in the evening or at night, and the partial relief of the positive sensory symptoms by the movements such as walking, shaking or rubbing. In fact, a higher incidence of RLS was reported among the neuropathic patients, and peripheral neuropathy was found to be more prevalent in patients with RLS than in general population. Moreover, RLS share many risk factors with peripheral neuropathy such as diabetes, uremia, amyloidosis and cryoglobulinemia, which suggests that peripheral neuropathy may play a pathophysiologic role in the development of RLS.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.5-8
• /
• 2018

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder characterized by an urge to move the legs or arms and uncomfortable paresthesia in the legs. Treatment of RLS can be various depending on the causes, severity, and frequency of the symptoms. In the case of secondary RLS, it is important to identify and manage the cause of RLS. Dopamine agonists have been used as firstline treatments for primary RLS treatment. However, due to augmentation, which is a common side effect of dopamine agonists, recent treatment guidelines are changing to prefer to anticonvulsants such as pregabalin and gabapentin. Iron, opioid, or benzodiazepine may be used when anticonvulsants or dopamine agonists are not adequately treated. Because RLS is a chronic disease, it is essential to establish a long-term treatment plan considering both efficacy and side effects.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.5-10
• /
• 2010

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common sensorimotor disorder that is characterized by an urge to move the legs and peculiar, unpleasant sensations deep in the legs and its prevalence in the general population is between 3.2% and 15%. RLS significantly impairs patients' lives, often by severely disrupting sleep. However, both clinicians and patients under-recognize the RLS. RLS phenotypes include an idiopathic form and secondary form that is usually resulted from various causative conditions. The pathophysiology of RLS may be related with the dopaminergic system, which is closely linked to a number of psychotropic medications, including antidepressant and antipsychotics. Several antidepressants and antipsychotics have been shown to induce or exacerbate RLS. We need pay attention to the fact that commonly prescribed medications can be the cause of RLS.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.55 no.2
• /
• pp.83-88
• /
• 2014

Objective : The restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common disorder affecting up to 5% to 15% of the general population, in which the incidence increases with age, and includes paresthesia in the legs. The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence of RLS in spine center and to review clinical manifestations of this syndrome and its current treatments. Methods : Over a period of a year, retrospective medical record review and lumbar magnetic resonance images were performed on 32 patients with RLS in spine clinic who were diagnosed by National Institutes of Health criteria. Affected limbs were classified as five. Two grading systems were used in the evaluation of neural compromises. Results : The incidence of RLS was 5.00% (32/639). There were 16 males (50%) and 16 females (50%). The median age at diagnosis was 55.4 years (range, 25-93 years). There are no correlation between the affected limbs of RLS and neural compromises on the lumbar spine. Conclusion : The RLS is a clearly common neurologic disorder of the limbs, usually the legs. The awareness of this syndrome can help reduce diagnostic error; thereby, avoiding the morbidity and expense associated with unnecessary studies or inappropriate treatments in RLS patients.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.98-100
• /
• 2008

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor neurological disorder in which the primary symptom is a compelling urge to move the legs, accompanied by unpleasant and disturbing sensations in the legs. Although pathophysiologic mechanism of RLS is still unclear, several evidences suggest that RLS is related to dysfunction in central nervous system involving brain and spinal cord. L-DOPA, as the precursor of dopamine, as well as dopamine agonists, plays an essential role in the treatment of RLS leading to the assumption of a key role of dopamine function in the pathophysiology of RLS. Patients with RLS have lower levels of dopamine in the substantia nigra and respond to iron administration. Iron, as a cofactor in dopamine production, plays a central role in the etiology of RLS. Functional neuroimaging studies using PET and SPECT support a central striatal D2 receptor abnormality in the pathophysiology of RLS. Functional MRI suggested a central generator of periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMs) in RLS. However, to date, we have no direct evidence of pathogenic mechanisms of RLS.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.163-174
• /
• 2013

Restless legs syndrome(RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by an irresistible urge to move legs to stop uncomfortable or odd sensations. We report a new approach to improve RLS using acupuncture and massage on iliopsoas Muscle. The patients who have RLS were treated by acupuncture and massage on iliopsoas Muscle. We measured 3~6 times IRLS(Korean Versoin of International Restless Legs Scale), VAS(visual analogue scale), and angle(between the legs and the table) during the treatment period. After treatment, RLS symptoms decreased, In case 1, IRLS changed 34 to 10, VAS changed 8 to 2, angle changed 20 to 5. In case 2, IRLS changed 22 to 12, VAS changed 10 to 5, angle changed 15 to 10. In case 3, IRLS changed 30 to 9, VAS changed 8 to 1, angle changed 25 to 5. Acupuncture and massage on iliopsoas muscle for RLS was effective. To effective acupuncture treatment for RLS, more research is needed.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.113-120
• /
• 2018

Objectives The purpose of this case is to report the effectiveness of oriental medicine in Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) in children who have sleep disorder. Methods A 6-year-old male patient, who was suffering from RLS, was treated by acupuncture, moxibustion and myofascial release. Results Treated with oriental medicine, the patient's RLS symptoms and sleep disorder were significantly improved. And the patient maintains his condition for 8 months. Conclusions This study shows that oriental medical treatments are effective on RLS, but further clinical studies are necessary.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.39-43
• /
• 2008

Objectives: The pathophysiology of restless legs syndrome (RLS) is not obvious, but many promising theories involve dopaminergic deficiency and genetic causes. The RLS is presumed to occur more frequently among schizophrenic patients who take antipsychotics, most of which blocks the dopamine receptors. This study aimed to investigate whether dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) 40 base pair (bp) variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism is associated with the antipsychotic-induced RLS in schizophrenia. Methods: We determined the diagnosis of RLS among the 190 Korean schizophrenic patients by the diagnostic criteria of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG). Genotyping was performed for the 40bp VNTR in DAT1 gene using polymerase chain reaction. Results: We separated the schizophrenic patients into 44 patients with RLS and 146 patients without RLS. The genotype and allele frequencies did not differ significantly between two groups. Conclusions: These results suggest that DAT1 gene 40bp VNTR is not associated with the antipsychotic-induced RLS in schizophrenia. To confirm these results, larger-scale association study is needed in the future.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.344-353
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of sleep with the serum lipid profile in patients who have restless legs syndrome (RLS). Methods: The data were obtained from 116 patients with RLS through questionnaires and blood sampling. Results: The results of this study showed correlations between lower quality of sleep and serum lipid profile (LDL Cholesterol) in patients with RLS (r=.19, p=.040). There were correlations for scores of quality of sleep from the, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) sub-region between lower subjective sleep quality and serum lipid profile (LDL Cholesterol) (r=.20, p=.026), between fewer hours of sleep duration and serum lipid profile (Total Cholesterol) (r=-.21, p=.024), and, between higher daytime dysfunction and serum lipid profile (LDL Cholesterol) (r=.42, p<.001) of patients with RLS. Conclusion: Pati-ents with RLS have sleep disorders with lower quality of sleep and changes in the serum lipid profile for total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. That is, patients with RLS have lower quality of sleep and dyslipidemia compared to persons without RLS. Further research is needed to monitor serum the lipid profile in early stage symptoms of midlife adult patients with RLS and especially older women.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.36-38
• /
• 2007

The pathomechanisms involved in both restless legs syndrome (RLS) and complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I) are still controversial whether they are central or peripheral origins. We recently encountered a patient who had an unusual coexistence of both RLS and CRPS I, and both of which showed good responses to sympathetic block. These findings suggest the role of peripheral mechanisms, especially unmyelinated small autonomic fiber, in both RLS and CRPS I.