Restless legs syndrome

Restless legs syndrome is a neurological disorder marked by an urge to move the legs, often with uncomfortable sensations that worsen during rest and in the evening.

Dopamine: A neurotransmitter involved in movement, motivation, and several brain circuits. Dopaminergic signaling helps explain why dopamine-targeting medicines can relieve symptoms.
International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group criteria: Consensus clinical criteria used to identify restless legs syndrome. Diagnosis rests on characteristic symptoms and excluding explanations such as cramps or positional discomfort.
Thomas Willis: A seventeenth-century English physician and anatomist who described neurological disorders. Willis gave an early account of leg restlessness that resembles the syndrome.
Akathisia: A state of inner restlessness and difficulty remaining still, often caused by medication. Akathisia can resemble the urge to move but lacks the syndrome's characteristic leg sensations and evening pattern.
Iron deficiency: A shortage of iron that can impair oxygen transport and cellular processes. Low iron stores are a treatable contributor to restless legs symptoms.
Ferritin: A protein that stores iron and whose blood concentration estimates iron reserves. Blood ferritin testing can reveal low iron stores relevant to treatment.
Karl-Axel Ekbom: A Swedish neurologist who characterized restless legs syndrome in the twentieth century. Ekbom's detailed clinical descriptions established the modern understanding and former name, Ekbom's syndrome.
Nocturnal leg cramps: Sudden, painful muscle contractions occurring during sleep or at night. Cramps cause localized pain and muscle tightening rather than an urge relieved by movement.
Circadian rhythm: The roughly 24-hour timing system that organizes biological processes. Symptoms commonly intensify in the evening, following a daily rhythm.
Gabapentin: A medication used for seizures and nerve pain that also treats restless legs syndrome. Gabapentin is a common treatment option, especially when symptoms are persistent or painful.

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