• C L Bassetti, D Mauerhofer, M Gugger, J Mathis, and C W Hess.
• Department of Neurology, University Hospital (Inselspital), Bern, Switzerland. claudio.bassetti@insel.ch
• Eur. Neurol. 2001 Jan 1;45(2):67-74.

BackgroundRestless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common sleep disorder. In 1995, clinical criteria for the diagnosis of RLS were defined.ObjectiveTo describe the clinical spectrum in a series of unselected RLS patients meeting the new diagnostic criteria.MethodsWe prospectively assessed by questionnaire and clinical assessment the characteristics of 55 consecutive RLS patients (35 women, 20 men; mean age = 62 +/- 16 years).ResultsIn 27% of the patients, RLS started before the age of 20 years (early-onset RLS). Sensory disturbances were painful in 56% of patients and felt in legs (98%), arms (35%), and 'internally' (45%). Motor disturbances included 'dyskinesias while awake' (36%). Insomnia (58%) was commoner than hypersomnia (24%). In 67% of the patients, no etiology of RLS was found (idiopathic RLS). Early-onset RLS was more commonly familial (p = 0.01) and associated with 'growing pains' (p = 0.005) than late-onset RLS. Patients with RLS and hypersomnia were younger (p = 0.01) and less commonly had painful sensations (p = 0.04) than patients with RLS and insomnia. Patients with idiopathic RLS were younger (p = 0.004), and less commonly had insomnia (p = 0.01) than patients with symptomatic RLS.ConclusionsRLS is a clinically pleomorphic syndrome, reflecting the contribution of multiple genetic and acquired factors in the pathogenesis of RLS.Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel

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