[Restless legs: recent advances in basic research and therapy].

In Germany approximately one percent of the population suffers from clinically relevant restless legs syndrome (RLS). Three non-ergoline dopamine agonists and levodopa/benserazide are now specifically licensed for RLS in Germany. Augmentation is the main complication of long-term dopaminergic treatment of RLS. Augmentation is defined as a paradoxical worsening of the symptoms during long-term dopaminergic treatment with increasing dose. According to a recent study this occurs in up to 60% of RLS patients during the first 6 months of treatment. Augmentation emerges less frequently during dopamine agonist treatment. The dopamine agonist doses required for the treatment of RLS patients is far below the dose range in Parkinson therapy. However, severe complications of dopamine agonist treatment can occur even in this dose range, like compulsive behaviours. A considerable number of RLS patients needs non-dopaminergic treatment for RLS. Most of them receive opioids as one of the second-line options in RLS therapy.