Iranian South Medical Journal (Dec 2009)
Restless leg syndrome and its association with serum ferritin in dialysis patients in Bushehr province, 2006
Abstract
Background: Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a sensory-motor disorder that affects 6-83% of dialysis patients. Increased Urea and creatinine, and Iron deficiency anemia resulting from renal failure are some causes of restless leg syndrome. This study was aimed to evaluate this issue. Methods: A cross sectional study was done on 130 dialysis patients in 5 dialysis centers of Bushehr Province. The diagnosis of RLS was made using the criteria of the International Restless Leg syndrome. The length of renal failure, number of weekly dialysis, erythropoietin dose per week, dose of mineral Iron per day, other co morbidities and medications, ferritin level, and predialysis BUN were determined. Results: In this study 43 (33.1%) patients had restless leg syndrome who consisted of 18 (41.9%) women and 25 (58.1%) men. Positive family history was significantly associated with restless leg syndrome (p<0.016), and these patients had restless syndrome 3.39 times more than the others. Sex, age, ferritin level, length of renal failure, and BUN were not associated with restless leg syndrome. Conclusions: Restless legs syndrome is a common finding in dialysis patients in Bushehr Province. RLS was not associated with ferritin level in our study, but was significantly associated with family history of RLS.
