[Epidemiology of restless legs syndrome].
BACKGROUND
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a chronic sensorimotor disorder where patients complain of an almost irresistible urge to move their legs. This urge can often be accompanied by pain or other unpleasant sensations, it either occurs or worsens with rest particularly at night, and improves with activity. The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group has established four essential criteria for clinical diagnosis of RLS.


BACKGROUND
Affecting an estimated 7.2 to 11.5% of the adult population, the symptoms of RLS may be associated with significant sleep disturbance and may have a negative impact on quality of life. The prevalence of RLS increases with age, and women are more frequently affected than men. In France, the estimated prevalence is 8.5%. Among sufferers, 4.4% complain of very severe symptoms. Although RLS is mainly idiopathic, several clinical conditions have been associated with it, especially iron deficiency with or without anemia, end-stage renal disease and pregnancy. These conditions may share a common pathophysiological mechanism involving a disorder of iron metabolism. By contrast, controversy persists as to whether polyneuropathy, particularly when associated with diabetes, is to be considered as an important cause of secondary RLS. This association is difficult to demonstrate as conventional electromyography is not adequate to detect small fiber neuropathy often associated with diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
RLS is often underdiagnosed and few subjects receive recommended RLS drug treatment. There is a clear need for complementary education to improve the accurate diagnosis of RLS. Indeed, better knowledge of this syndrome is a prerequisite to prompt an appropriate therapeutic management.
hôpital Pellegrin, Bordeaux, France. imad.ghorayeb@u-bordeaux2.fr
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Ghorayeb
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Tison
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012737:Sex Factors