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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Pipeline to Evaluate Genetic Determinants of Constitutional Disease
Published on: April 4, 2018
Evolution of non-treated restless legs syndrome
Raimundo Nonato Delgado Rodrigues1, Aída Alexandra Alvim de Abreu e Silva Rodrigues, Jorge Faber
1Sleep Disorders Center, Hospital Universitário de Brasília, University of Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil. reno@unb.br
Purpose:
The primary concern of this study is to evaluate the clinical course of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a group of patients who refused treatment.
Method:
This study compares the outcome of a group of RLS patients after one year without any specific treatment. The International Restless Legs Syndrome Scale (IRLS) was applied at baseline (irls_1) and after one year (irls_2). The patients answered a simple questionnaire for the evaluation of possible environmental or life habit changes after one-year evolution. Serum ferritin was determined at baseline. An improvement index (%improvement) was established through the formula: irls_1- irls_2/irls_1 x 100. Results were compared and a correlation analysis performed.
Results:
A negative significant correlation was found between the patients' age and irls_2 (r= -0.9 p=0.0018) and between %improvement and irls_2 (r= -0.88 p=0.0039). A positive and significant correlation was determined between %improvement and age. There was only a marginally significant correlation between serum ferritin and ilrs_2 (r= -0.7 p=0.052). No significant changes were found in the other elements analyzed.
Conclusion:
A favorable outcome was found in this group of RLS patients after one year evolution without treatment. The outcome was positively influenced by the patients' age.
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