NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Restless leg syndrome -- marked by uncomfortable sensations and an urge to move the legs, most often at night -- frequently afflicts people with end stage kidney disease. Now, doctors have shown that the condition can be eased by intravenous infusions of iron dextran.
However, relief is
transient, the researchers report in the American Journal of Kidney
Diseases.In such patients, "our findings, coupled with those of other investigators, suggest abnormal iron transport in the movement centers of the central nervous system," lead author Dr. James A. Sloand, told Reuters Health.
Sloand of the University of Rochester, New York and colleagues note that restless legs syndrome may be linked to iron deficiency.
To investigate whether iron replenishment might be helpful, the researchers conducted a study in which 11 patients at random were given daily treatment with iron dextran while 14 others receive an inactive placebo.
Although the patients "did not have iron deficiency by the usual noninvasive biochemical standards," say the investigators, at the end of one week, there was a significant improvement in restless legs syndrome severity scores in the iron dextran group.
The infusion had its greatest effect after two weeks, but by 4 weeks the scores were no longer significantly different from those in the placebo group.
This information, Dr. Sloand concluded, "will ultimately enhance our understanding of the cause of restless legs syndrome and help target future therapeutic endeavors to provide long-term relief of symptoms for those suffering from this syndrome."
SOURCE: American Journal of Kidney Diseases, April 2004-By David Douglas