Department of Pediatrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Acta Paediatr. 2013 May;102(5):e221-6. doi: 10.1111/apa.12173. Epub 2013 Mar 6.
To describe symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in early childhood and the effect of oral iron treatment.
A study population comprising 22 children, 15 males and seven females referred for paediatric evaluation because of sleep disturbances. Presence of RLS was evaluated using the International RLS Study Group consensus criteria of RLS. In case of ferritin level below 50 ng/mL, oral iron treatment was initiated. Fourteen were examined by polysomnography as well, and periodic limb movement index during sleep (PLMSI) was calculated. Relief of symptoms was recorded by the parents and correlated with ferritin levels and PLMSI.
Median age at onset of symptoms was 7.5 months (0-40 months). The most striking single symptom was awakening after 1-3 h of sleep followed by screaming, crying, kicking or hitting the legs. Oral iron supplementation had a positive ferritin-concentration-dependent clinical effect. A relation between high PLMSI and low ferritin levels was demonstrated.
Symptoms of RLS may start as early as the first year of life, are accompanied by low ferritin levels and a high PLMSI and can be ameliorated by iron supplementation. An increased awareness and knowledge of RLS in early childhood are warranted.
描述儿童早期不宁腿综合征（RLS）的症状以及口服铁治疗的效果。
本研究纳入了 22 名因睡眠障碍而接受儿科评估的儿童，其中男 15 例，女 7 例。采用国际 RLS 研究组 RLS 共识标准评估 RLS 的存在。如果铁蛋白水平低于 50ng/ml，则开始口服铁治疗。其中 14 名还接受了多导睡眠图检查，并计算了睡眠期间的周期性肢体运动指数（PLMSI）。父母记录了症状的缓解情况，并与铁蛋白水平和 PLMSI 相关联。
症状发作的中位年龄为 7.5 个月（0-40 个月）。最突出的单一症状是睡眠 1-3 小时后醒来，随后出现尖叫、哭泣、踢腿或打腿。口服铁补充具有依赖于铁蛋白浓度的积极临床效果。证明了高 PLMSI 与低铁蛋白水平之间存在相关性。
RLS 的症状可能早在生命的第一年就开始出现，伴随着铁蛋白水平低和 PLMSI 高，并可以通过铁补充来改善。需要提高对儿童早期 RLS 的认识和了解。
