Iron Infusion Treatment For Restless Leg Syndrome

Unbearable pain, coupled with sleepless nights, is an all too familiar theme for sufferers of restless leg syndrome (RLS), a sleep related neurological disorder which affects an estimated 10-15% of Americans. To date, treatments have relied on dopamine agonists and sedatives, with an aim to relieve pain and restore restful sleep. But this methodology is set to change as recent research findings have shown a direct correlation between iron deficiency and RLS, opening the possibility of treating the underlying cause of this frequently misunderstood disorder.

What is RLS?

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a disorder affecting movement and sleep. Sufferers with the condition experience unpleasant sensations in their legs and an overwhelming urge to move them.

Symptoms are often triggered by periods of inactivity and improve when the person moves, making it far more likely to occur at night and thereby disrupting sleep.

The condition affects women more often than men and generally increases in severity with age.

Finding the cause

Treatment of RLS depends largely on its cause. There are certain conditions which can trigger onset, such as pregnancy. For others, it could be hereditary.

And certain medications can also worsen symptoms of RLS such as tricyclic antidepressants, diphenhydramine, caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. Though discontinuing use of these substances can often relieve symptoms,10-15% of patients cannot obtain effective relief from diet modification or currently available treatment options.

Common link

Those who suffered from RLS without underlying disease or pregnancy are typically treated with medications designed to alleviate discomfort and sleep disruption. But research over the past several years suggests there may be a common link between many sufferers in the form of anemia. Most patients with RLS have low blood iron levels and/or an inability to properly absorb iron in the body.

However, it should be noted that normal blood iron levels should not be used to discount iron deficiency as the underlying cause of RLS. James Connor, PhD, professor and vice chair of neurosurgery at Penn State University conducted a postmortem study on RLS sufferers using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine their brain tissue. His team found that iron levels were low in a particular area of the brain that enables the transport iron in and out of cells. This led them to believe there may be a genetic defect involved in RLS.

Iron infusions

RLS therapy focus has now shifted from symptom relief to treating the underlying iron deficiency. But many patients find taking iron supplements in tablet or liquid form can cause other types of discomfort and the iron is often not properly metabolized by the body making it an ineffective choice.

A study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Restless Leg Syndrome treated patients who had normal blood iron levels with 1,000mg of iron delivered through an IV. This method bypasses the digestive tract and therefore eliminates the problem of malabsorption and intestinal upsets caused by tablets, making it more readily available to the brain. More than 60% of treated patients experienced complete remission of RLS symptoms which lasted from a few weeks to several months, suggesting iron infusion could become the primary method to treat RLS in the near future.

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