Restless Leg Syndrome/Willis-Ekbom Disease Pathophysiology.

Richard P Allen

Journal: Sleep medicine clinics 2016;10(3):207-14, xi

PMID: 26329430

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Abstract

Restless leg syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease has brain iron deficiency that produces excessive dopamine and known genetic risks, some of which contribute to the brain iron deficiency. Dopamine treatments work temporarily but may eventually produce further postsynaptic down-regulation and worse restless leg syndrome. This article includes sections focused on pathophysiologic findings from each of these areas: genetics, cortical-spinal excitability, and iron and dopamine.

Address: Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Asthma & Allergy Building, 1B76b, 5501 Hopkins Bayview Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2015.05.022

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MeSH Terms: Brain, Dopamine, Humans, Iron, Myelin Sheath, Restless Legs Syndrome