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To compare the efficacy of gabapentin and levodopa-c (Levodopa / Carbidopa) in reducing restless leg syndrome (RLS) symptoms and sleep problems in hemodialysis patients with RLS in a four-week randomized clinical trial. The diagnosis of RLS was made using the criteria of the International Restless Legs Study Group. Each subject completed three questionnaires : IRLS questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth sleepiness scale. After four weeks of washout period for previous treatments for RLS, subjects were randomly assigned to four weeks of gabapentin (200 mg) or levodopa-c (110 mg). After four weeks of therapy, the questionnaires administered at the outset of the study were re-administered. Both drugs were found effective for the management of RLS. But, the effect of gabapentin was more significant. Gabapentin significantly improved the IRLS total score (change from baseline to post-treatment ≈–17) compared with levodopa-c (change from baseline to post-treatment ≈–13) (P : 0.016). Regarding sleep parameters, levodopa improved sleep quality, sleep latency and sleep duration (P < 0.0001). Gabapentin was also effective with respect to sleep parameters (P < 0.0001). Our study shows that gabapentin is a safe effective therapy for RLS among hemodialysis patients. This medication may be considered as an alternative or additive treatment to current therapeutic remedies for hemodialysis patients with RLS.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by uncomfortable sensation of paresthesia in legs that subsequently causes involuntary and continuous movement of the lower limbs, especially at rest. Its prevalence in hemodialysis is more than that in the general population. Different risk factors have been suggested for RLS. We studied the prevalence and risk factors of RLS in 137 hemodialysis patients followed up at our center. The patients completed at least three months on dialysis and fulfilled four criteria for the diagnosis of RLS. We compared the patients with and without RLS, and the odds ratios (ORs) were estimated by the logistic regression models. The prevalence of RLS was 36.5 % in the study patients. Among the variables, diabetes was the only predicting factor for the development of RLS. The diabetic patients may be afflicted with RLS 2.25 times more than the non-diabetics. Women developed severe RLS 5.23 times more than men. Neurodegeneration, decrease in dopamine level, higher total oxidant status, and neuropathy in diabetic patients may explain the RLS symptoms.

Willis-Ekbom’s disease/restless legs syndrome (WED/RLS) has been described in subjects undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Different studies have reported varying prevalence rates and different factors associated with this condition; however, the results are inconsistent. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the prevalence of WED/RLS in patients undergoing HD. Another aim of the study was to identify if any comorbidities or biochemical factors were associated with this condition. A total of 194 adult patients undergoing maintenance HD were included in this study. They were screened for WED/RLS using International RLS Study Group criteria on the face-to-face interview and clinical examination. Most recent laboratory parameters were gathered from the medical records. In addition, seroreactivity to hepatitis B and C was also recorded. The mean age of all the subjects included in the study was 54.4 ± 15 years (range: 18– 92 years); 58.2% were males. The mean duration on HD was 36.6 ± 19.3 months. WED/RLS was seen in 5.2% of the study subjects. Subjects with and without WED/RLS were comparable with regard to gender (P = 0.23), adequacy of dialysis (P = 0.82), shift of dialysis (P = 0.93), presence of diabetes mellitus (P = 0.91), hypertension (P = 0.26), smoking (P = 0.22), alcohol use (P = 0.45), and reactivity to hepatitis C (P = 0.19) and hepatitis B (P = 0.80), as well as various hematological and biochemical parameters. The prevalence of WED/RLS of 5% in the HD group was higher than in the general population. However, this study could not find any correlation between RLS and any biochemical parameters or comorbidities. This is an important area to be considered in future and requires more work with larger sample size.

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a distressing sleep disorder that is commonly experienced by patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of RLS and its related factors among hemodialysis patients. This was an analytical cross-sectional study that was performed on hemodialysis patients of the Bu”Ali Hospital of Qazvin during 2009 and 2010. One hundred and twelve patients were selected by the census sampling method as the study sample. Data collection was performed using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Berlin, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and International Restless Leg Syndrome Study Group criteria (IRRLS) questionnaires. Student’s ttest and chi-square test were applied to analyze the collected data. RLS complaints were very common among patients on long-term dialysis therapy and were reported in about 42.9 % of the patients. Patients with RLS had higher daytime sleepiness, insomnia complaints and poorer sleep quality. Percentage of patients in the high-risk group was higher in the RLS group. RLS symptoms appear to be correlated with age (P = 0.012) and use of sedative drugs (P = 0.035). RLS is common in dialysis patients and is associated with a higher prevalence of other sleep disturbances. Therefore, the effective assessment and management of this sleep disturbance has the potential to significantly enhance patient outcomes.

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) affects the quality of life and survival in patients on hemodialysis (HD). The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics and survival parameters in patients on HD with RLS. This study was a non-randomized clinical study involving 204 patients on HD, of whom 71 were female and 133 were male. Symptoms of RLS were defined as positive responses to four questions comprising the criteria of RLS. We recorded the outcome of treatment, biochemical analyses, demographic, sexual, anthropometric and clinical characteristics in all study patients. Patients with RLS who completed the study had a significantly higher body mass index and lower intima-media thickness and flow through the arteriovenous fistula. Among patients with RLS who died, there were more smokers as well as higher incidences of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. Among patients with RLS who survived, there were a greater number of patients with preserved diuresis and receiving erythropoietin therapy. Patients who completed the study had significantly higher levels of hemoglobin, creatinine, serum iron and transferrin saturation. Diabetes mellitus (B = 1.802 ; P = 0.002) and low Kt / V (B = –5.218 ; P = 0.001) were major predictive parameters for survival.