August 22, 2007 – In a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers announce having discovered a genetic abnormality which would be at the origin of the syndrome of the legs without rest.
More precisely, this anomaly is linked to one of the symptoms of the syndrome: the involuntary movements of the legs during sleep.
The study was conducted in Iceland and the United States with 617 subjects suffering from the disorder, and 27,559 controls who did not have it.1. The researchers identified a genetic defect in 50% of the subjects who had the syndrome, but not in those who did not have involuntary leg movements.
For the authors of the study, the existence of a genetic origin justifies the adoption of a treatment protocol. However, in 2006, independent researchers questioned the relevance of treating restless leg syndrome with medication. They implied that it mainly served the interests of pharmaceuticals2.
In addition, according to the authors of an analysis of the results of clinical trials, ropinirole, the drug most prescribed to treat this syndrome, is only marginally effective. It would cause undesirable effects disproportionate to the importance of the symptoms it would aim to relieve3.
Note that, among the authors of the Icelandic-American study, researchers received honoraria from various pharmaceutical companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Requip® widely prescribed to treat restless leg syndrome.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
According to Associated Press.
1. Stefansson H, Rye DB, et al. A Genetic Risk Factor for Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep. N Engl J Med. 2007 Jul 18; [publication électronique anticipée].
2. Woloshin S, Schwartz LM. Giving legs to restless legs: a case study of how the media helps make people sick. PLoS Med. 2006 Apr; 3 (4): e170. Epub 2006 Apr 11. Full text: www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov
3. [Anonyme]. Ropinirole: new indication. Restless legs: disproportionate adverse effects. Prescribe Int. 2006 Oct; 15 (85): 173-6.
