The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Impact of restless legs syndrome and iron deficiency on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children

Impact of restless legs syndrome and iron deficiency on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children
Impact of restless legs syndrome and iron deficiency on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children
Objective: increasing evidence suggests a significant comorbidity between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and restless legs syndrome (RLS). Iron deficiency may underlie common pathophysiological mechanisms in subjects with ADHD plus RLS (ADHD+RLS). To date, the impact of iron deficiency, RLS and familial history of RLS on ADHD severity has been scarcely examined in children. These issues are addressed in the present study.

Methods: serum ferritin levels, familial history of RLS (diagnosed using National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria) and previous iron supplementation in infancy were assessed in 12 ADHD+RLS children, 10 ADHD children and 10 controls. RLS was diagnosed using NIH-specific pediatric criteria, and ADHD severity was assessed using the Conners’ Parent Rating scale.

Results: ADHD symptom severity was higher, although not significantly, in children with ADHD+RLS compared to ADHD. The mean serum ferritin levels were significantly lower in children with ADHD than in the control group (p<0.0005). There was a trend for lower ferritin levels in ADHD+RLS subjects versus ADHD. Both a positive family history of RLS and previous iron supplementation in infancy were associated with more severe ADHD scores.

Conclusions: children with ADHD and a positive family history of RLS appear to represent a subgroup particularly at risk for severe ADHD symptoms. Iron deficiency may contribute to the severity of symptoms. We suggest that clinicians consider assessing children with ADHD for RLS, a family history of RLS, and iron deficiency
1389-9457
711-715
Konofal, Eric
6328bf1a-74f1-4438-8c14-333ccc8931eb
Cortese, Samuele
53d4bf2c-4e0e-4c77-9385-218350560fdb
Marchand, Martine
e83db7da-04b9-4114-bf4f-5a5690cca36d
Mouren, Marie-Christine
9c60d8ab-fe73-4121-91a8-4522492cd6d5
Arnulf, Isabelle
97cbb9c2-ccc4-4117-8fb4-0cc873cce1e1
Lecendreux, Michel
51135545-1b33-4540-8ba9-1e8a1cc57173
Konofal, Eric
6328bf1a-74f1-4438-8c14-333ccc8931eb
Cortese, Samuele
53d4bf2c-4e0e-4c77-9385-218350560fdb
Marchand, Martine
e83db7da-04b9-4114-bf4f-5a5690cca36d
Mouren, Marie-Christine
9c60d8ab-fe73-4121-91a8-4522492cd6d5
Arnulf, Isabelle
97cbb9c2-ccc4-4117-8fb4-0cc873cce1e1
Lecendreux, Michel
51135545-1b33-4540-8ba9-1e8a1cc57173

Konofal, Eric, Cortese, Samuele, Marchand, Martine, Mouren, Marie-Christine, Arnulf, Isabelle and Lecendreux, Michel (2007) Impact of restless legs syndrome and iron deficiency on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children. Sleep Medicine, 8 (7-8), 711-715. (doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2007.04.022). (PMID:17644481)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objective: increasing evidence suggests a significant comorbidity between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and restless legs syndrome (RLS). Iron deficiency may underlie common pathophysiological mechanisms in subjects with ADHD plus RLS (ADHD+RLS). To date, the impact of iron deficiency, RLS and familial history of RLS on ADHD severity has been scarcely examined in children. These issues are addressed in the present study.

Methods: serum ferritin levels, familial history of RLS (diagnosed using National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria) and previous iron supplementation in infancy were assessed in 12 ADHD+RLS children, 10 ADHD children and 10 controls. RLS was diagnosed using NIH-specific pediatric criteria, and ADHD severity was assessed using the Conners’ Parent Rating scale.

Results: ADHD symptom severity was higher, although not significantly, in children with ADHD+RLS compared to ADHD. The mean serum ferritin levels were significantly lower in children with ADHD than in the control group (p<0.0005). There was a trend for lower ferritin levels in ADHD+RLS subjects versus ADHD. Both a positive family history of RLS and previous iron supplementation in infancy were associated with more severe ADHD scores.

Conclusions: children with ADHD and a positive family history of RLS appear to represent a subgroup particularly at risk for severe ADHD symptoms. Iron deficiency may contribute to the severity of symptoms. We suggest that clinicians consider assessing children with ADHD for RLS, a family history of RLS, and iron deficiency

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: November 2007
Organisations: Clinical Neuroscience

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 380463
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/380463
ISSN: 1389-9457
PURE UUID: 70e6f99f-3f93-49b7-bd8e-73292e31b9cc
ORCID for Samuele Cortese: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5877-8075

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 10 Sep 2015 12:33
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:52

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Eric Konofal
Author: Samuele Cortese ORCID iD
Author: Martine Marchand
Author: Marie-Christine Mouren
Author: Isabelle Arnulf
Author: Michel Lecendreux

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×