The Prevalence of Restless Leg Syndrome in Iraqi Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation, demyelination, gliosis (scarring) and neuronal loss of the central nervous system.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and possible risk factors for restless leg syndrome in Iraqi MS patients.

A cross-sectional study included 110 patients meeting the 2010 McDonald criteria for the diagnosis of MS who attended the MS clinic at Baghdad teaching hospital from the first of February 2016 to the first of February 2017. Patient were examined by two neurologist and evaluated by Cambridge Hopkins Restless leg syndrome (RLS) questionnaire (CH-RLSq) for the presence of RLS.

Nineteen Multiple sclerosis patients (17.3%) had Restless leg syndrome. Older age, longer disease duration, higher EDSS score, pyramidal and sensory functional system involvement were significant risk factors to develop RLS. Restless leg syndrome was significantly associated with MS with a prevalence of 17.3%.

Higher expanded disability status scale score and pyramidal system involvement were the strongest predictors to develop RLS. Special score can be applied to patients with MS to predict their probability to develop RLS.