Neurológia pre prax 5/2011

Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder in childhood

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movement disorder are classified as sleep related movement disorders. They are connected with difficulty in falling asleep, repeated nocturnal awakenings and chronic sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation in childhood causes mainly attention disorders, hyperactivity, mood changes and school failure. Symptoms can mimic attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children with insomnia, daytime fatigue and ADHD symptoms should be systematically screened for these sleep disorders because anamnestic data could be unremarkable. Nocturnal polysomnography is useful tool for the diagnosis. Treatment involves sleep hygiene and iron supplementation. Dopaminergic agonists, clonazepam and gabapentin were also used in severe cases of RLS in childhood as off-label treatment.

Keywords: restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, nocturnal polysomnography.