Iron may calm restless legs in children

Treatment with supplemental iron was effective for treating restless legs syndrome in children diagnosed with the condition, according to a chart review.

Of the 97 children aged 5-18 years with diagnosed RLS, 65% received iron as either a monotherapy or combined with other treatments. Of those children, approximately 80% had improvement or resolution of their symptoms, said Dr. Louella B. Amos of the Medical College of Wisconsin,Milwaukee, and her associates (Clin. Pediatr. 2013 Nov. 6 [doi: 10.1177/0009922813507997]).

At baseline, patient median ferritin level was 22.7 ng/mL, with 71% of the children having a level below 30 ng/mL. Median time to improvement or resolution was 3.8 months, they reported.

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