title: Carotid intima-media thickness in patients with idiopathic restless legs syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There have been no studies of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in idiopathic restless legs syndrome (iRLS) patients. The aims of this study were to evaluate the future risk of stroke in iRLS patients using computer software-assisted automated IMT measurement systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured the carotid IMT by high-resolution B-mode ultrasound with Intimascope software in 38 iRLS patients and 64 controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean value of the maximum IMT in iRLS patients was significantly lower than that in controls (p < 0.05). In multiple linear regression analysis, younger age and the presence of iRLS remained statistically significant. Younger age or the presence of iRLS was highly correlated with a lower value of the maximum IMT (p < 0.001, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that iRLS patients may have a lower risk of progression of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Joong Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jong Sam
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Baik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*