Impact of kidney transplantation on restless legs syndrome

Our study was to assess the impact of kidney transplantation on restless legs syndrome (RLS) in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients.

A total of 75 patients after a successful kidney transplantation (39 males, 36 females) were assessed consecutively. All patients completed the self reported questionnaire focused on RLS 6 months after kidney transplantation with investigation of selected laboratory parameters. The questionnaire met the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group criteria for RLS diagnosis.

30 (40.54%) out of 75 patients met the RLS diagnostic criteria. From this RLS positive group, 8 (26.7%) of them reported a complete regression of symptoms, 13 (43.3%) reported symptoms relief, 6 (20.0%) were without any change and 3 (10.0%) reported worsening of symptoms after kidney transplantation. In the RLS positive group, the majority of patients (26-86.7%) reported the occurrence of the symptoms in the evening and 21 (70.0%) of RLS positive patients reported the onset of symptoms after the onset of renal disease.

Although the secondary RLS in EDRS patients is very common, it is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed. We concluded that kidney transplantation, except the primary benefit to kidney replacement and to its function, has a secondary impact on other conditions such as RLS (Tab. 5, Fig. 4, Ref. 17).