Restless legs syndrome in hemodialysis patients: association with calcium antagonists. A preliminary report

Abstract

Uremia-related restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a known form of secondary RLS. This cross-sectional survey included patients (n = 82) on stable hemodialysis (HD; >3 months, Kt/V >1.2) who were iron-replete, free of neurodegenerative or psychiatric disorders, severe polyneuropathy and radiculopathy, not exposed to antipsychotics/antidepressants, and not severely anemic. Forty-nine (60%) were RLS 'positive', and 25 (31%) had severe/very severe symptoms (International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group criteria). None had been diagnosed previously. In a multivariate analysis, the prevalence of RLS was higher in diabetic patients [vs. nondiabetics; prevalence ratio (PR) 2.32, 95% CI 1.50-3.60, p < 0.001] and those exposed to Ca2+ antagonists (vs. nonexposed; PR 2.02, CI 1.47-2.76, p < 0.001), and also increased with dialysis duration (PR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.09, p < 0.001). Association of Ca2+ antagonists and RLS in uremic patients has not been reported previously and deserves further research.