Cerebrovascular Risk in Restless Legs Syndrome: Intima-Media Thickness and Cerebral Vasomotor Reactivity: A Case-Control Study.

Purpose: Although some studies have suggested an association between cardiovascular disease and restless legs syndrome (RLS), the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. The intima-media thickness (IMT) and vasomotor reactivity are two simple, non-invasive tools to investigate preclinical atherosclerosis and microangiopathy, respectively. The aims of this study were to evaluate carotid IMT and to explore vasomotor reactivity in idiopathic RLS (iRLS) patients.

Evaluating pitolisant as a narcolepsy treatment option.

Introduction: Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by a pentad of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), cataplexy, sleep paralysis, hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations, and disturbed nocturnal sleep. Treatment of narcolepsy remains challenging and current therapy is strictly symptomatically based.

Areas Covered: The present manuscript is based on an extensive Internet and PubMed search from 1990 to 2020.

Brivaracetam for the treatment of focal-onset seizures: pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluations.

Introduction: The goal of pharmacologic therapy with antiseizure medications (ASMs) is to achieve a seizure-free state with minimal side effects. About one third of patients treated with available ASMs continue to experience uncontrolled seizures. There is still need for new ASMs with enhanced effectiveness and tolerability.

Advancing synthetic therapies for the treatment of restless legs syndrome.

: Restless Legs Syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease (RLS/WED) is a common sensory-motor neurological disorder that impairs nocturnal rest causing decreased alertness, depressed mood, reduced job performance and poor quality of life. In patients affected by moderate to severe RLS/WED, a pharmacological treatment is mandatory. : The present review is based on an extensive Internet and PubMed search from 1996 to 2019.

Timing use of novel anti-epileptic drugs: is earlier better?

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. The goal of pharmacologic therapy remains complete freedom from seizures with minimal side effects. Despite advancements and the development of third-generation antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), a third of patients with epilepsy remain refractory to pharmacotherapy.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations for the clinical efficacy of perampanel in focal onset seizures.

Introduction: Medical therapy is the mainstay of management of epilepsy. Despite the increasing number of available antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), approximately one-third of epileptic patients do not have adequate control of seizures. There is still a need for the development of new AEDs with enhanced effectiveness and tolerability.

Pharmacokinetic drug evaluation of lacosamide for the treatment of partial-onset seizures.

The goal of pharmacologic therapy with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is to reduce the frequency of seizures and achieve a seizure-free state with minimal side effects. However 30% of patients treated with available AEDs continue to experience uncontrolled seizures. There is still need for new AEDs with enhanced effectiveness and tolerability.

Investigational therapies for the treatment of narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by a pentad of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), cataplexy, sleep paralysis, hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations, and disturbed nocturnal sleep. While non-pharmacological treatments are sometimes helpful, more than 90% of narcoleptic patients require a pharmacological treatment. Areas covered: The present review is based on an extensive Internet and PubMed search from 1994 to 2017.

Headache and endovascular procedures.

The International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3 beta) includes headache attributed to intracranial endovascular procedures (EVPs). The aim of this review is to describe the clinical and pathophysiological aspects of headache related to vascular lesions and EVPs. Current studies regarding this issue are contradictory, although generally favouring headache improvement after EVPs.

Opioids in the treatment of restless legs syndrome: pharmacological and clinical aspects.

Introduction: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurologic sensory-motor disorder that can have a negative impact on sleep, quality of life and health. In patients affected by severe RLS, pharmacological treatment is mandatory.

Areas Covered: The present review is based on a search using PubMed from 1993 to 2016.

Intractable restless legs syndrome: role of prolonged-release oxycodone-naloxone.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder characterized by an irresistible urge to move the legs accompanied by uncomfortable sensations that occur at night or at time of rest. Pharmacological therapy should be limited to patients who suffer from clinically relevant symptoms. Chronic RLS is usually treated with either a dopamine agonist (pramipexole, ropinirole, rotigotine) or an α2δ calcium-channel ligand (gabapentin, gabapentin enacarbil, pregabalin).

Polysomnographic Sleep Patterns in Children and Adolescents in Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome.

Objectives: We aimed (i) to search for qualitative sleep patterns for pediatric unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (SPPUWS) in prolonged polysomnographic (PSG) recordings in children and adolescents with subacute severe disorders of consciousness due to an acquired brain damage; (ii) to investigate the clinical relevance of SPPUWS and of possible neurophysiological markers (rapid eye movement sleep and sleep spindles) in PSG recordings of pediatric patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS).

Methods: We performed a PSG study in 27 children with UWS due to acquired brain damage in the subacute phase. Patients received a full neurological examination and a clinical assessment with standardized scales.

ADMET considerations when prescribing novel therapeutics to treat restless legs syndrome.

Introduction: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a commonly occurring sensory motor disorder that might impair nocturnal rest causing decreased alertness, depression, reduced job performance and poor quality of life. In patients affected by severe RLS, a pharmacological treatment is mandatory.

Areas Covered: The present review is based on a search using PubMed from 1994 to 2014.

Investigational approaches to therapies for restless legs syndrome.

Introduction: Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder that impairs nocturnal rest, causing decreased alertness, depressed mood, reduced job performance and poor quality of life. In patients affected by severe RLS, pharmacological treatment is mandatory.

Areas Covered: The present review is based on an extensive Internet and PubMed search from 1994 - 2014.

The importance of polysomnography in the evaluation of prolonged disorders of consciousness: sleep recordings more adequately correlate than stimulus-related evoked potentials with patients' clinical status.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate the importance of sleep recordings and stimulus-related evoked potentials (EPs) in patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (DOCs) by correlating neurophysiologic variables with clinical evaluation obtained using specific standardized scales.

Methods: There were 27 vegetative state (VS) and 5 minimally conscious state (MCS) patients who were evaluated from a clinical and neurophysiologic perspective. Clinical evaluation included the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R), Disability Rating Scale (DRS), and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).

Lacosamide for the treatment of epilepsy.

Introduction: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. Despite the development of new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), ∼ 30% of epilepsy patients experience recurrent seizures and even more experience side effects. Therefore, there is still need for new AEDs with enhanced effectiveness and tolerability.

ADMET considerations for restless leg syndrome drug treatments.

Introduction: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder that might impair nocturnal rest causing decreased alertness, depressed mood, reduced job performance, and poor quality of life. In patients affected by severe RLS, a pharmacological treatment is mandatory.

Areas Covered: The present review is based on a search using PubMed from 1994 to 2012.