DBS in restless legs syndrome: a new therapeutic approach?

Objective: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder characterized by an urge to move legs or arms, with a typical circadian rhythm. RLS can be treated with pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies. Nevertheless, in some patients RLS can be refractory to all medical and non-medical treatments. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus internus (GPi) has been reported to improve RLS symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with RLS. We describe the case of a patient suffering from refractory idiopathic RLS implanted with bilateral GPi DBS.

Method: The patient underwent DBS targeting the bilateral GPi. Follow up for three years involved clinical evaluation and polysomnography (PSG).

Results: The patient reported subjective improvement, with reduction in the IRLS score. Furthermore, the polysomnography (PSG) showed an objective improvement of polysomnographic parameters, which remained stable during the follow-up.

Conclusion: DBS for RLS can be a new therapeutic approach for severe RLS, but further studies are needed.