Restless Legs SyndromeK. Ray Chaudhuri, Luigi Ferini-Strambi, David Bruce Rye, David Rye Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also known as Ekbom syndrome, is a common movement disorder with sensorimotor symptoms occurring during sleep and quiet wakefulness. Yoakum described RLS as the "most common disorder you've never heard of" and this may, unfortunately, be an appropriate description of RLS. The term "restless leg syndrome" was first introduced by Karl-Axel Ekbom, a Swedish neurologist and surgeon in 1945. RLS can present itself in primary are and secondary care, across a range of specialties, such as psychiatry, rheumatology, and sleep medicine, and in the UK, the condition remains under-recognized and often regarded as a neurosis in spite of evidence that RLS adversely affects quality of life. Inappropriate clinical history taking leads to misdiagnosis and under diagnosis and a sense that the condition may be a "manufactured" one. Although RLS is effectively treatable and two drugs are now specifically licensed for RLS in the UK, the condition is generally poorly treated and investigated and often prescribed inappropriate drugs. Patients' descriptions of RLS are and varied including "Elvis legs" and an "electric current" running through their legs. Because of such a broad, unusual spectrum of reported sensations, RLS is frequently misunderstood and misdiagnosed, and even classified as a psychogenic disorder. Patient group surveys in the UK also suggest a consistent delay in diagnosis, delay in referrals, and patients often being told to "put up with the symptoms." Part of the Oxford Neurology Library, this pocketbook highlights the importance of RLS, the ease with which RLS can be diagnosed, the problems of misdiagnosis, current thoughts on pathogenesis and up-to-date treatments. The book serves as an invaluable quick reference for neurologists, trainees, specialist nurses, and general practitioners. |
Contents
Preface | 1972 |
Contributors | 1974 |
Abbreviations | 1976 |
1 The historical basis of restless legs syndrome | 1978 |
2 What causes restless legs syndrome? | 1986 |
3 Epidemiology | 1998 |
4 Symptoms and healthrelated quality of life | 2004 |
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Common terms and phrases
akathisia Allen associated with RLS asthenia benzodiazepines BTBD9 Cabergoline causes RLS CHAPTER 6 Secondary CHAPTER 7 Treatment chromosome clinical condition diagnosis of RLS disease dopamine agonists dopaminergic dose drugs Earley effect efficacy Ekbom epidemiology essential tremor evaluated family history Ferini-Strambi ferritin findings first gabapentin gene variants genetic history of RLS identified idiopathic RLS influence insomnia IRLSSG iron deficiency L-dopa legs syndrome RLS levodopa linkage LOD score moderate to severe Montplaisir movements in sleep Muzerengi Neurology neuropathy nocturnal onset opiate opioids pain Parkinson's disease patients with RLS pergolide periodic leg movements periodic limb movements placebo PLMS population pramipexole pregnancy Ray Chaudhuri receptor reported restless legs syndrome risk RLS and PLMS RLS patients RLS subjects RLS symptoms RLS/PLMs ropinirole Rotigotine Secondary restless legs serum ferritin levels severe RLS significant significantly specific spinal cord suggest symptoms of RLS therapy transferrin treatment of RLS tremor Trenkwalder uraemia Winkelmann worsen