Intravenous iron sucrose for restless legs syndrome in pregnant women with low serum ferritin

We report on two pregnant women who either had de novo restless legs syndrome (RLS) or had marked enhancement of preexisting RLS symptoms during pregnancy. Both patients had ferritin values <50 mu g/L at baseline. The patients had relevant sleep disorders and daytime symptoms caused by RLS. The women were treated in an open paradigm with intravenous iron sucrose. A few weeks after therapy, both patients experienced a significant reduction or even remission of RLS symptoms. Their quality of life and sleep substantially improved and no treatment-related adverse effects were observed. According to our initial experience, intravenous iron sucrose administration appears to be an effective therapy in RLS patients with low ferritin values during pregnancy. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.