Abstract
OBJECTIVES:Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a frequent comorbid condition associated with distinct unrelated diseases. While the incidence of RLS has not been definitively confirmed, RLS-like symptoms have been reported in a section of Asian population who also had hyperthyroidism. The prevalence of RLS is generally low in Asian populations. Under these circumstances, we hypothesized that in a population where RLS is common, such as in Brazil, RLS could manifest as a comorbid ailment alongside Graves’ disease, a common hyperthyroid condition.METHODS:In a cross-sectional survey, 108 patients who presented with Graves' disease were analyzed for restless legs or associated symptoms.RESULTS:Twelve patients (11.1%) displayed symptoms of RLS prior to the incidence of Graves’ disease. These patients experienced worsening of the symptoms during their hyperthyroid state. Six patients (5.6%) developed RLS, consequent upon the incidence of Graves’ disease as per the consensus of the panel of the experts. Fifteen patients (13.9%) also presented with RLS-like symptoms without any discernible circadian feature of the syndrome.CONCLUSION:Our findings confirm that Graves’ disease might trigger restless legs-like symptoms, while the condition of hyperthyroidism could also be complicated by definite RLS.
Highlights
Restless legs syndrome (RLS), known as Willis-Ekbom disease (WED), is a sensorimotor disorder which is diagnosed based on specific clinical criteria [1,2,3,4]
RLS is defined by five cardinal characteristics: a) the patients feel the urge to move their legs when they are either resting or inactive; b) their urge is usually accompanied by paresthesia or pain, deep within the legs; c) the symptoms are often relieved by movement; d) the symptoms occur exclusively or predominantly during the evening and night, and e) the symptoms are not the result of any other medical or behavioral condition [2,3]
All interviews were administered by one of us (MPH) and the following questions were asked: i) When at rest, did you feel any odd sensations within your legs during the active period of your Graves’ disease (GD); ii) Were these symptoms ameliorated when you moved your legs; iii) Did the symptoms resurface after you stopped your movement; iv) Did you feel the symptoms at least twice a week, even sometimes with an interval of a few weeks without the symptoms; v) Was there any difference in these symptoms according to the time of the day?
Summary
Restless legs syndrome (RLS), known as Willis-Ekbom disease (WED), is a sensorimotor disorder which is diagnosed based on specific clinical criteria [1,2,3,4]. While the disease occurs mainly in adults, children have been reportedly affected [3,4,5]. It often manifests as a comorbid condition alongside several unrelated diseases [6].
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