'Is RLS a harbinger and consequence of MS?: Striking results of the 'RELOMS-T' study'.
BACKGROUND
Although studies report a high prevalence rate of restless legs syndrome (RLS) among patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) ranging from 13.3 to 65.1%, little is known about the causes of this relationship.


METHODS
To ascertain the prevalence, features and impact of RLS among PwMS a nation-wide, multicenter, prospective and a cross-sectional survey, designed to reflect all of the PwMS throughout Turkey, was conducted in 13 centers. Exploring the relationship of the two conditions could possibly contribute to the understanding of the causes of the high and wide-ranging prevalence rates and the pathophysiology of both diseases.


RESULTS
Of the 1068 participants 173 (16,2%) found to have RLS [RLS(+)] and 895 (83,8%) did not [RLS(-)]. Among the RLS(+) 173, all but 8 patients (4,6%) were underdiagnosed in terms of RLS. More than half of the patients with RLS had 'severe' or 'very severe' RLS. The onset of RLS was before or synchronous with the onset of MS in about a half of our patients.


CONCLUSION
We conclude that RLS should be meticulously investigated in PwMS and MS can be a direct cause of RLS at least in part of PwMS. Our data about the timing of the onset of MS and RLS, along with the high prevalence of RLS in PwMS suggest that the pathologic changes in the initial phases of MS can possibly trigger RLS symptoms.
['Sevim|Serhan|S|', 'Demirkıran|Meltem|M|', 'Terzi|Murat|M|', 'Yüceyar|Nur|N|', 'Taşdelen|Bahar|B|', 'İdiman|Egemen|E|', 'Kürtüncü|Murat|M|', 'Boz|Cavit|C|', 'Tuncel|Deniz|D|', 'Karabudak|Rana|R|', 'Siva|Aksel|A|', 'Özcan|Abdülcemal|A|', 'Neyal|Münife|M|', 'Göksel|Başak Karakurum|BK|', 'Balal|Mehmet|M|', 'Şen|Sedat|S|', 'Ekmekçi|Özgül|Ö|', 'Öksüz|Nevra|N|', 'Kaya|Derya|D|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D015897:Comorbidity D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005260:Female D006306:Health Surveys D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009103:Multiple Sclerosis D015995:Prevalence D011446:Prospective Studies D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome D014421:Turkey D055815:Young Adult
Restless legs syndrome Multiple sclerosis Pathophysiology Epidemiology Spinal cord