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Clinical management of restless legs syndrome in end-stage renal disease patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 October 2016

Zeyad T. Sahli ,
Jae Jo ,
Shaker A. Mousa  and
Frank I. Tarazi
Zeyad T. Sahli
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Program, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA School of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Jae Jo
Affiliation:
The Pharmaceutical Research Institute at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Rensselaer, New York, USA
Shaker A. Mousa
Affiliation:
The Pharmaceutical Research Institute at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Rensselaer, New York, USA
Frank I. Tarazi*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Program, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr. F. I. Tarazi, Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA. (Email: ftarazi@hms.harvard.edu)
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Abstract

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological movement disorder, characterized by restless and unpleasant sensations in the deep inside of legs. The symptoms of RLS are less noticeable during daytime, but more prevalent at night. Therefore, the disorder can induce low quality of life, insomnia, and impairment of daytime activity. RLS in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients is especially problematic due to premature discontinuation of dialysis and increased mortality. The prevalence of RLS among dialysis patients is much higher compared to the prevalence of the same disorder in patients with normal renal functions. Even though there are recommended treatment guidelines for the general population established by Medical Advisory Board of the RLS foundation, which include the use of dopamine agonists, levodopa, gabapentin, benzodiazepines, and opioids, limited information is available on the effects of these therapies in ESRD patients. Since the existing clinical data were extrapolated from small sample sizes in short-term clinical trials, further clinical studies are still needed to better assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of these medications in patients with ESRD.

Keywords

Benzodiazepinesdopamineend-stage renal diseasegabapentinopioidperiodic limb movement disorderrestless legs syndrome
Type
Review Article
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , February 2017 , pp. 14 - 21
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2016 

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