Painful legs and moving toes syndrome responsive to pregabalin

J Postgrad Med. 2015 Apr-Jun;61(2):116-9. doi: 10.4103/0022-3859.153106.

Abstract

Report three cases of painful legs and moving toes (PLMT) syndrome responsive to pregabalin along with a review of its literature. Three patients with PLMT syndrome improved with pregabalin. The first and third patient reported improvement in pain scores, quality of life, and quality of sleep sustained over time. The second and third patient had near complete remission of toe movements, but pregabalin was discontinued in the second patient due to aggravation of leg edema. PLMT is a rare and debilitating disorder characterized by lower limb pain and involuntary toes or feet movements. Its pathophysiology remains unknown and its therapy refractory to most drugs, except for pregabalin, as shown in this case series. PLMT is a rare and incapacitating syndrome due to the lack of an effective pain therapy. We report three patients with PLMT who favorable responded to pregabalin. We propose pregabalin be considered in the management of PLMT.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Analgesics / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Leg / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Movement Disorders / diagnosis
  • Movement Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Pain / etiology
  • Pregabalin / therapeutic use*
  • Quality of Life
  • Syndrome
  • Toes / physiopathology*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Pregabalin