Restless Leg Syndrome
| Course Id | 270825 |
| Course Name | Restless Leg Syndrome |
| Course Catagory | Sleep |
| Course Price | 25.11 |
| Course CEU | 2 |
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
- Analyze the diagnostic criteria for restless legs syndrome (RLS) according to the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG), differentiating essential features from supportive criteria and distinguishing RLS from mimicking conditions such as leg cramps, positional discomfort, and peripheral neuropathy.
- Evaluate the pathophysiology of RLS and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), including the roles of dopaminergic dysfunction, iron deficiency, genetic factors, and central nervous system mechanisms in disease manifestation and progression.
- Synthesize the relationship between RLS and periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS), explaining how these conditions interact, their polysomnographic manifestations, and the significance of PLMS in patients with and without RLS symptoms.
- Assess secondary causes of RLS including iron deficiency, pregnancy, end-stage renal disease, peripheral neuropathy, and medication-induced RLS, applying appropriate screening and differential diagnosis approaches to identify underlying etiologies.
- Compare and contrast pharmacological treatment approaches for RLS including dopamine agonists, alpha-2-delta ligands, opioids, and iron supplementation, evaluating efficacy, side effect profiles, augmentation risk, and appropriate patient selection for each therapeutic class.
- Apply polysomnographic techniques for the detection and quantification of periodic limb movements, including proper sensor placement, scoring criteria according to AASM guidelines, calculation of the periodic limb movement index (PLMI), and recognition of movement-related arousals.
- Explain the clinical significance of RLS severity assessment using validated instruments, the impact of RLS on sleep quality and daytime functioning, the natural history of the disorder including augmentation phenomena, and strategies for long-term management and monitoring.