Restless Leg Syndrome/Willis-Ekbom Disease Pathophysiology

Sleep Med Clin. 2015 Sep;10(3):207-14, xi. doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2015.05.022. Epub 2015 Jul 15.

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.

Keywords: Dopamine; Iron; PLMS; RLS augmentation; RLS/WED.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Iron / metabolism
  • Myelin Sheath / drug effects
  • Myelin Sheath / pathology
  • Myelin Sheath / physiology
  • Restless Legs Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Restless Legs Syndrome / genetics
  • Restless Legs Syndrome / pathology
  • Restless Legs Syndrome / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Iron
  • Dopamine