Evaluation of painful sensory symptoms in restless legs syndrome: Experience from two clinical trials

BackgroundAlthough “uncomfortable and unpleasant” limb sensations are a core symptom of restless legs syndrome (RLS), change in sensory symptomatology is usually not evaluated as a treatment outcome.MethodsIn two double-blind trials, patients with idiopathic RLS (n = 357 in trial 615 and 398 in trial 604) were randomized to placebo or pramipexole (optimized at 0.125, 0.25, 0.50, or 0.75 mg/day). For entry, trial 604 also required at least moderate mood disturbance. In both trials, 12-week change in RLS-related limb pain was assessed using a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS).ResultsAt baseline, approximately 75% of patients had limb-pain scores >30. Treatment with pramipexole yielded significant score reduction as early as day 5. At week 12, median score reduction for pramipexole relative to placebo was −33.5 vs. −11.0 (p < 0.0001) in trial 615 and −31.0 vs. −11.0 (p < 0.0001) in trial 604.ConclusionsPainful sensations may be more frequent in RLS than has previously been appreciated, and their amelioration may be a facet of pramipexole’s benefit even in patients with concurrent mood disturbance. Limb pain assessment, e.g., by a VAS, is a useful measure of change in RLS symptom severity.