Time structure of leg movement activity during sleep in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and effects of levodopa.

Objectives: To evaluate the leg movement (LM) time structure (periodicity and night distribution) during sleep in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their eventual changes after treatment with levodopa (L-DOPA).

Subjects And Methods: One group of ADHD patients (n=18) and another group of normal controls (n=17) were recruited; those with ADHD were randomized to L-DOPA or placebo therapy. At baseline (both groups) and after therapy (only patients) subjects underwent full-night polysomnography (PSG) and the leg motor pattern was evaluated with advanced tools of analysis particularly able to detect and describe LM time structure (periodicity and distribution).

Intravenous iron given prior to pregnancy for restless legs syndrome is associated with remission of symptoms.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is more common during pregnancy than in the general population, occurring at a 2-3 times higher prevalence. While iron, genetics, and central nervous system dopamine have been shown to play major roles in RLS unrelated to pregnancy, the etiology and treatment of RLS during pregnancy have not been adequately delineated. We describe a novel approach where a 23-year-old female was given intravenous iron prior to pregnancy, with complete remission of RLS symptoms until five months postpartum.

Advances in pediatric restless legs syndrome: Iron, genetics, diagnosis and treatment.

A substantial literature characterizes pediatric restless legs syndrome (RLS), which occurs in about 1.9% of individuals between 8 and 18years of age. Diagnostic interview techniques and an updated inventory of pediatric RLS mimics are presented.

Children show individual night-to-night variability of periodic limb movements in sleep.

Study Objective: Several studies have documented the occurrence of significant night-to-night variability of periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) in adults.The aim of this study was to investigate the night-tonight variability of PLMS in children.

Design And Measurements: Two to 4 nights of polysomnography were performed as part of a multisite, placebo-controlled study investigating the effects of carbidopa/levodopa on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children who were not taking other medications that impacted the central nervous system.

Pediatric restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder: parent-child pairs.

Objective: Although recent publications have reported the occurrence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) in children and adolescents, the literature is relatively limited. The goals of this retrospective study were to (1) apply the recent International Classification of Sleep Disorders 2nd edition (ICSD-2) diagnostic criteria for RLS and PLMD in pediatric cases where periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) 5 per hour were found; (2) review parental history of RLS; and (3) further define the clinical characteristics of RLS and PLMD in a pediatric subgroup where each child had a parent with clinically assessed RLS.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of consecutive polysomnograms (PSGs) with PLMS >5 per hour in patients 19 years of age from a single pediatric sleep/neurology practice over 11 years.

Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder in children and adolescents.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) has been recognized as a common and treatable neurologic disorder in adults for some time, but the occurrence of RLS in children and adolescents has seen relatively delayed acceptance. A large, population-based study has recently reported a 1.9% and 2% prevalence of RLS in children and adolescents, respectively.