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Evaluation of oral iron treatment in pediatric restless legs syndrome (RLS)
Ikuko Mohri1, Kumi Kato-Nishimura, Kuriko Kagitani-Shimono
1Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
Insights
Oral iron supplementation shows promise for treating restless legs syndrome (RLS) in children. This study found iron effective in most pediatric RLS patients, improving symptoms and ferritin levels.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder affecting children.
- Iron deficiency is often implicated in RLS, but treatment efficacy in pediatric populations requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of oral iron treatment in Japanese children diagnosed with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).
- To provide detailed clinical information on RLS in a pediatric cohort.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 30 Japanese children (aged 2-14) with RLS.
- Oral iron administered open-label; polysomnography and serum ferritin levels assessed.
- Serum ferritin re-evaluated 3-6 months post-treatment.
Main Results:
- RLS onset ranged from 6 months to 13 years; 63.3% had a positive family history.
- Pre-treatment ferritin levels averaged 26.6 ng/ml; post-treatment averaged 83.5 ng/ml.
- Oral iron was highly effective in 17 children, effective in 10, and ineffective in 3; treatment effect observed within 3 months.
Conclusions:
- Oral iron supplementation appears to be an effective treatment for pediatric Restless Legs Syndrome in Japanese children.
- Iron treatment can normalize serum ferritin levels and alleviate RLS symptoms in this cohort.
Objective:
We conducted a retrospective chart review of children with restless legs syndrome (RLS) to evaluate the efficacy of oral iron treatment, which was administered open-label during the course of clinical care. In addition, we provided detailed clinical information about RLS in this pediatric cohort.
Patients And Methods:
The study included 30 consecutive Japanese children with RLS who visited the Pediatric Sleep Clinic at Osaka University Hospital, and consisted of 17 boys and 13 girls, aged 2-14 years (mean ± SD, 6.5 ± 2.8). All-night polysomnography was performed in 18 patients and serum ferritin levels were measured in all the patients. After the diagnosis of RLS, iron was administered at doses between 1.6 and 7.8 mg/kg/day (3.2 ± 1.3). Serum ferritin was re-evaluated 3-6 months after iron treatment, or when RLS symptoms had disappeared.
Results:
The patient age at onset of RLS symptoms ranged from six months to 13 years (4.3 ± 3.6). A positive family history was recognized in 19 children (63.3%). Serum ferritin levels before therapy were 9-62 ng/ml (26.6 ± 12.8) and oral iron supplementation was reported to be highly effective in 17 children, effective in 10, and ineffective in three. The serum ferritin level at follow-up was 23-182 ng/ml (83.5 ± 49.8). The onset of treatment effect was within approximately three months.
Conclusions:
Iron treatment could be effective in Japanese pediatric RLS.
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