Idiopathic RLS

Among the pathologies associated with RLS, several groups [38, 40] have reported neuropathies and radiculopathies. Evidence of peripheral axonal neuropathy of a mild degree was found in some putative idiopathic RLS patients through electro-physiological (EMG/NCV) and psychophysiological tests, subsequently confirmed by sural nerve biopsy [41], These data have recently been confirmed in 30 % of 22 patients by means of skin biopsy, and related to late onset associated with pain-like symptoms [42],... 

A single intravenous infusion of 1000 mg iron dextran has also been evaluated in two open label studies, in which idiopathic RLS patients (n = 11) in the one study, and RLS patients with chronic kidney failure (n = 25) in the other study, were included [88, 89], In both investigations, a therapeutic effectiveness was reported for a period of 2 1 weeks, and in one study the authors also noticed a reduction in PLM [88], The results from oral iron therapy seem to be less convincing. In the only double-blind study available in literature, 24 RLS patients were treated for 2 weeks with a daily amount of 325 mg of iron sulfate. Despite the fact that a considerable number of the subjects did not complete the study due to the appearance of side effects, no significant difference in symptom relief was reported between treated and control group. Reduced effectiveness of oral iron therapy could depend... 

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