title: Higher prevalence of restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease in multiple sclerosis patients is related to spinal cord lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is connected with higher prevalence of secondary restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease (RLS/WED). Aim of this study was to determine risk factor for developing symptoms of RLS in MS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In cross-sectional study we examined 200 random MS patients. After obtaining informed consents, patients undervent a structured interview based on RLS and MS symptoms and characteristics, demographic, and health-related data. Than we collected results of brain/spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Blood samples were examined for blood count and biochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From all 200 subjects, 26% were RLS-positives (95% CI: 20-32%). From positive patients, 44% had negative family history for RLS, and developed secondary RLS after onset of MS. Compared to RLS-negatives, the positives had significantly higher prevalence of spinal cord lesions (p=0.01). Presence of spinal pathology was connected with higher risk of RLS development (OR=3.846, 95%CI:1.304-11.346). There were no statistically significant differences in the levels of red blood cells, iron metabolism parameters, or levels of B or D vitamins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Risk of RLS/WED in MS increases with presence of lesions in spinal cord. The role of decreased dopamine delivery to lower spinal regions as the pathological background must be proved by more detailed research.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava Limbová 5, 833 05 Bratislava, Slovakia. Electronic address: mmminar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minár
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava Limbová 5, 833 05 Bratislava, Slovakia. Electronic address: darina.petrlenicova@gmail.com.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petrleničová
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava Limbová 5, 833 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewiczova 1, 813 71 Bratislava, Slovakia. Electronic address: peter.valkovic@gmail.com.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valkovič
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D007501:Iron
keywords: Iron metabolism; Restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease; Risk factors; Spinal cord lesions; Thyroid gland; Vitamins