Clinical characteristics of multiple sclerosis with restless legs syndrome

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical features of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) and to further examine relevant factors that may contribute to the co-occurrence of MS and RLS.Methods Seventy MS patients were recruited in the present study.The RLS screen was further performed in MS patients based on the diagnostic criteria for RLS.MS patients with RLS were designated as the case group and MS patients without RLS served as the control group.The clinical data including age of MS onset,MS duration and clinical disability by the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) were analyzed.Results There were 12 MS patients with RLS in total 70 MS patients and the incidence rate was 17.1％.The average age of MS onset in the RLS group was (47.6 ± 10.0) years,and (40.1 ± 10.4 ) years in the control group.The difference of average age of MS onset was found to be significant (t =2.29,P =0.030).The average history of MS in the RLS group was ( 12.6 ± 6.8 ) years,and ( 8.2 ± 6.6) years in the control group ( t =2.10,P =0.039).The average EDSS of the RLS group was 4.5 ±2.5,and 2.5 ±2.0 in the control group (t =3.02,P =0.004).There was no significant association between RLSRS and EDSS in MS patients with RLS (P =0.15).Conclusion The incidence rate of RLS in MS patients was high.Among patients with MS,RLS was associated with older age,longer MS duration,and more severe disability. Key words: Multiple sclerosis; Restless legs syndrome