title: Prevalence of restless legs syndrome in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS (n = 30), constipation-predominant IBS (n = 30), or mixed-symptom IBS (n = 30) were recruited from the community between March 2008 and February 2009. Rifaximin 200 mg three times daily was administered empirically to alleviate small intestinal bowel overgrowth in all patients. The presence of RLS was assessed via an RLS questionnaire and polysomnography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six patients with IBS (29%) were diagnosed with RLS using the RLS questionnaire. Twenty-four of the 26 patients (92%) underwent polysomnography, and all had confirmation of RLS. A greater percentage of patients with RLS had diarrhea-predominant IBS (62%) compared with patients with constipation-predominant IBS (4%) or mixed-symptom IBS (33%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Restless legs syndrome is prevalent in patients with IBS, especially those with diarrheal symptoms. Assessment of concomitant disorders may improve diagnosis and expand relevant treatment options for patients.
authors: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Liver Transplant, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, United States. patbasumd@aol.com
authors: P Patrick
authors: PP
authors: Basu
authors: N James
authors: NJ
authors: Shah
authors: Nithya
authors: N
authors: Krishnaswamy
authors: Tommy
authors: T
authors: Pacana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult