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Restless legs syndrome is frequently overlooked in patients being evaluated for polyneuropathies
Author(s) -
Nineb A.,
Rosso C.,
Dumurgier J.,
Nordine T.,
Lefaucheur J.P.,
Créange A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2007.01856.x
Subject(s) - medicine , restless legs syndrome , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical therapy , pediatrics , psychiatry , neurology
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) often presents with paresthesias and dysesthesisas. We have investigated the prevalence and clinical features of RLS in a cohort of patients referred for clinical suspicion of peripheral neuropathy (PN). Sixty‐four patients with sensory symptoms, and 101 age‐matched controls were prospectively evaluated for RLS, PN and causes of both conditions. In the 64 patients (60 ± 14 years), none were referred with a suspicion of RLS. Forty‐one had a sensori‐motor PN of which 22 had a definite RLS (54%). When excluding other causes of RLS, 8 of 41 patients had a RLS associated with a neuropathy (20%). The proportion of RLS in the healthy controls was 10%, lower than in the cohort of patients. In patients without PN, 57% had a RLS, and 55% in the whole cohort, a higher proportion than in the healthy controls ( P < 0.0001). Patients with PN and RLS had more sleep disorders ( P < 0.04), and legs and calves symptoms ( P = 0.09) than patients with PN without RLS. Toes symptoms were more frequently observed in patients with PN but without RLS ( P < 0.02). We conclude that RLS frequently presents with symptoms suggestive of peripheral neuropathy, and therefore, is often overlooked.