Restless leg syndrome in pregnancy

Objective: Pregnancy is considered as a risk factor of onset and progression of restless leg syndrome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the etiology of restless leg syndrome (RLS) in pregnant women. Methods: Five hundred pregnant women who applied to a university hospital obstetrics clinic were received to this study. A questionnaire evaluating demographic and pregnancy characteristics, and RLS symptoms was conducted. Pregnant women were divided into two groups, as with and without RLS. Age, gravidity, parity, body mass index, gestational age, hemoglobin value, biochemical parameters such as thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), creatinine and aspartate aminotransferase / alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) values were compared between pregnant women with and without RLS. Results: The incidence of RLS in pregnancy was found 15.4%. The mean age of pregnant women with and without RLS was 27.5±6.6 and 26.9±5.7, respectively, and there was no significance difference between two groups (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in number of number of pregnancy, delivery and abortion between two groups (p>0.05). Gestational age, weight and body mass index were significantly higher in pregnant with RLS (p=0.005). The rate of iron supplementation was higher in pregnant with RLS (p=0.009), but hemoglobin and hematocrit values were not different between two groups (p>0.05). TSH, thyroxine, creatinine and AST/ALT values were found to be similar in both groups. The incidence rate of RLS were found as 9.7%, 14.5% and 19.5%, respectively according to the trimesters. Conclusion: The rate of restless leg syndrome was found higher in pregnant women with advanced gestational weeks and high body mass index. Pregnant with high body mass index, and advanced gestational weeks should be evaluated for RLS symptoms.