September 24, 2004 - A multi-institution research team including three Penn State scientists recently was awarded a $7.9 million grant from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health to study the causes of and effectiveness of iron therapies to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS). Press release via EurekAlert.

April 28, 2004 - The May issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD) contains a new study and a review of restless legs syndrome and dialysis patients:

"Restless legs syndrome in patients on dialysis"- review abstract from AJKD

"Restless legs symptoms among incident dialysis patients: Association with lower quality of life and shorter survival" - abstract from AJKD

"A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of intravenous iron dextran therapy in patients with ESRD and restless legs syndrome" - abstract from AJKD

"Conclusion: High-dose iron dextran infusion is associated with a significant, but transient, reduction in symptoms of RLS in patients with ESRD."

September 9, 2003 - "Of all the disorders affecting sleep, (restless legs syndrome) RLS is the one that produces the most chronic sleep loss, year after year," said psychologist Richard Allen of the Center for the Study of Restless Legs at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Story from The Boston Globe.

The low iron levels that can lead to RLS can have several triggers, including any condition that leads to persistent anemia, pregnancy, stomach surgery, kidney failure and dialysis.

June 6, 2003 - An iron deficiency may be the cause of restless legs syndrome It appears that cells in a portion of the mid-brain aren’t getting enough iron. Story from EurekAlert.

April 2, 2003 - A article in this month's issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD) concludes that hyperphosphatemia, anxiety, and a great degree of emotion-oriented coping with stress were independently related to the presence of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) in uremic patients on hemodialysis therapy.

"Clinical and psychological aspects of restless legs syndrome in uremic patients on hemodialysis" - abstract from AJKD

November 14, 2002 - A study from Austria suggests that cases of restless legs syndrome which do not respond to medication may be due to iron insufficiency. Story from Reuters Health/Yahoo.(link is no longer available)

July 4, 2001 - A study published in this month's American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD) reports an effective treatment for restless legs syndrome:

"A Crossover Study of Gabapentin in Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome Among Hemodialysis Patients" - abstract from AJKD

November 17, 2000 - A recent scientific article in the journal Neurology identified two forms of restless leg syndrome.

October 26, 20000 - For those that suffer from restless legs syndrome (RLS), there is news that cabergoline may be effective in reducing symptoms of RLS.

Cabergoline is currently only approved for use in treating Parkinson's disease.

May 2, 2000 - Neurologists from Emory University have released data that demonstrates that a low dosage of the drug ropinirole is a safe and effective treatment for restless legs syndrome (RLS), a common but often undiagnosed neurologic disorder.

It has been known for over 30 years that anemia and low levels of iron in the blood are associated with symptoms of RLS. Chronic conditions—such as diabetes, peripheral neuropathy (damage to the nerves in the hands and feet), alcoholism, Parkinson’s disease, kidney failure, and rheumatoid arthritis—may induce a longer-lasting RLS.

Ropinirole is a dopamine agonist that has been FDA-approved for use in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. It has not yet been approved for use in treating RLS.

This data was presented Monday, May 1 at the American Academy of Neurology's 52nd Annual Meeting in San Diego. (link no longer available)

Here is the on-line information booklet and a list of frequently asked questions about RLS from the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation web site.