Biomaterial Database

Pharmacological Management of Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder in Children. 2018

Geoffrey Rulong, and Thomas Dye, and Narong Simakajornboon

Sleep Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 45219, USA.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) are under-recognized sleep disorders in children and adolescents. Several recent epidemiological studies have shown that RLS and PLMD are common in the pediatric population, and if left untreated, may lead to cardiovascular and neurocognitive consequences. Therefore, early diagnosis and intervention may help preventing long-term consequences. The management of RLS and PLMD in children involves both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic approaches. Although there is emerging literature supporting medical therapy in children with RLS and PLMD, the overall experiences with these medications remain limited. Most children and adolescents with RLS and PLMD have low iron storage; therefore, iron therapy should be considered as the first line of treatment in children. Currently, there is no FDA-approved medication for RLS and PLMD in children. There is increasing evidence on the effectiveness of dopaminergic medications in children but the data are quite limited. Other medications such as α2δ-1 ligands, benzodiazepine, and clonidine are frequently used, but have not been adequately investigated in children. Further studies are needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pharmacologic therapy for RLS and PLMD in children.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D012148	Restless Legs Syndrome	A disorder characterized by aching or burning sensations in the lower and rarely the upper extremities that occur prior to sleep or may awaken the patient from sleep.	Restless Leg Syndrome,Restless Legs,Willis Ekbom Disease,Willis Ekbom Syndrome,Willis-Ekbom Disease,Willis-Ekbom Syndrome,Wittmaack Ekbom Syndrome,Wittmaack-Ekbom Syndrome,Disease, Willis Ekbom,Disease, Willis-Ekbom,Syndrome, Restless Leg,Syndrome, Willis Ekbom,Syndrome, Willis-Ekbom,Syndrome, Wittmaack Ekbom,Syndrome, Wittmaack-Ekbom
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D020189	Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome	Excessive periodic leg movements during sleep that cause micro-arousals and interfere with the maintenance of sleep. This condition induces a state of relative sleep deprivation which manifests as excessive daytime hypersomnolence. The movements are characterized by repetitive contractions of the tibialis anterior muscle, extension of the toe, and intermittent flexion of the hip, knee and ankle. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p387)	Periodic Limb Movement Disorder,Periodic Movement Disorder, Sleep,Sleep Disorder, Periodic Movements,Sleep Myoclonus Syndrome,Excessive Periodic Sleep-Related Leg Movements,Periodic Leg Movements, Excessive, Sleep-Related,Sleep-Related Periodic Leg Movements, Excessive,Excessive Periodic Sleep Related Leg Movements,Myoclonus Syndrome, Nocturnal,Myoclonus Syndrome, Sleep,Myoclonus Syndromes, Sleep,Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndromes,Sleep Myoclonus Syndromes,Sleep Related Periodic Leg Movements, Excessive,Syndrome, Nocturnal Myoclonus,Syndrome, Sleep Myoclonus,Syndromes, Sleep Myoclonus