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Updated: Nov 28, 2025

Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Pipeline to Evaluate Genetic Determinants of Constitutional Disease
Published on: April 4, 2018
Large genome-wide association study identifies three novel risk variants for restless legs syndrome
Maria Didriksen1,2, Muhammad Sulaman Nawaz2,3, Joseph Dowsett1
1Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract:
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological sensorimotor disorder often described as an unpleasant sensation associated with an urge to move the legs. Here we report findings from a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of RLS including 480,982 Caucasians (cases = 10,257) and a follow up sample of 24,977 (cases = 6,651). We confirm 19 of the 20 previously reported RLS sequence variants at 19 loci and report three novel RLS associations; rs112716420-G (OR = 1.25, P = 1.5 × 10-18), rs10068599-T (OR = 1.09, P = 6.9 × 10-10) and rs10769894-A (OR = 0.90, P = 9.4 × 10-14). At four of the 22 RLS loci, cis-eQTL analysis indicates a causal impact on gene expression. Through polygenic risk score for RLS we extended prior epidemiological findings implicating obesity, smoking and high alcohol intake as risk factors for RLS. To improve our understanding, with the purpose of seeking better treatments, more genetics studies yielding deeper insights into the disease biology are needed.
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