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Autonomic complaints in patients with restless legs syndrome
Natalya Shneyder1, Charles H Adler, Joseph G Hentz
1Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, United States.
Background:
Data regarding autonomic function in restless legs syndrome (RLS) are limited to heart rate and blood pressure changes in cases with periodic limb movements (PLMS).
Methods:
We compared autonomic symptoms of 49 subjects with RLS vs 291 control subjects using the Scales for Outcome in Parkinson disease-Autonomic (SCOPA-AUT) questionnaire, consisting of 23 items in six domains scored from 0 to 3. The total score and domain scores were transformed to 0-100 points. Subjects with neurodegenerative disorders (i.e., dementia, Parkinsonism) were excluded.
Results:
The RLS group was younger (mean±standard deviation, 77.9±8.0 vs 80.5±7.9years; P=.03) and included more women (84% vs 69%; P=.04). The mean SCOPA-AUT total score was higher in the RLS group compared with the control group (20±11 vs 16±9; P=.005). Additionally the RLS group had abnormalities in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and pupillomotor domains. When comparing the percentage of subjects with any complaint on individual questions (score of ⩾1), the RLS group had a greater number of subjects with sialorrhea, constipation, early abdominal fullness, lightheadedness when standing, and heat intolerance.
Conclusions:
Autonomic complaints, especially gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and oversensitivity to light, were significantly increased in subjects with RLS. Causes for autonomic dysfunction in RLS require further investigation.
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