Genetic hemochromatosis is not a risk factor for Restless Legs Syndrome

Iron dysmetabolism has long been identified as a primary key factor involved in Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) pathophysiology and may account for the high prevalence of RLS observed in chronic liver diseases (CLD). Prevalence of RLS was also reported to be high in genetic hemochromatosis (GH) but whether this is due to the unique iron metabolism disorder and to treatment procedure in GH remains unknown. If this assumption is true, then one would hypothesize that RLS prevalence is higher in GH than in another CLD such as chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

We conducted a prospective questionnaire-based survey to assess the prevalence of RLS symptoms in consecutive patients with either GH or CHB. Patients who were screened positive for RLS based on the criteria of the International RLS Study Group were further interviewed by telephone and if needed by face to face assessment to confirm RLS diagnosis.

Symptoms of confirmed RLS were confirmed in 8.9% of the 101 participants with CHB and in 10% of the 105 patients with GH. Low ferritin levels were not associated with the presence of RLS in both groups nor were the severity of the liver disease.

GH is not a risk factor for RLS occurrence as any other cause of CLD, as RLS prevalence in both GH and CHB is within the range of RLS prevalence in the general Caucasian population.