title: Is neuropathy involved with restless legs syndrome in Machado-Joseph disease?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a group of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) or Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) (SCA3/MJD) patients and assess whether there is an association between neuropathy and serum ferritin levels and restless legs syndrome (RLS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six SCA3/MJD patients underwent electromyography studies to check for neuropathy. Their serum ferritin levels were measured as well. These findings were evaluated based on the presence or not of RLS and its severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of neuropathy in the RLS group was not significantly higher compared to the non-RLS group (23 vs. 15%, Fisher's exact test, p = 1.000). Furthermore, no association was found between RLS and ferritin levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no correlation between neuropathy or ferritin levels and RLS in SCA3/MJD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. zeluizpedroso@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: José Luiz
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pedroso
authors.forename: Márcio Luiz Escórcio
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Braga-Neto
authors.forename: Denise Spinola
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: Thais
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Minett
authors.forename: Gilmar Fernandes
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: do Prado
authors.forename: Gilberto Mastrocola
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Manzano
authors.forename: Orlando Graziani Povoas
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Barsottini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D017827:Machado-Joseph Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins