Abstract
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) was first described in 1685 by the English physician Thomas Willis. In 1945, Karl-Axel Ekbom provided a comprehensive clinical description of the disorder in his doctoral dissertation and coined the term restless legs syndrome. Consequently, the condition is also known as Willis–Ekbom disease. RLS is characterized by an irresistible urge to move the legs, usually accompanied by unpleasant sensations that occur during periods of rest, particularly in the evening or at night, and are partially or completely relieved by movement. Although RLS was recognized several centuries ago, it received relatively little attention until the 1990s, when accumulating evidence identified it as an important public health concern. In 2003, the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) established the first standardized diagnostic criteria, which were subsequently revised in 2012. As the understanding of the pathophysiology of RLS has advanced, numerous evidence-based recommendations have been developed, covering initial and long-term management, treatment in children and pregnant women, iron supplementation, and the management and prevention of dopaminergic augmentation associated with prolonged dopaminergic therapy.
