Epidemiologic study about restless legs syndrome and migraineTHESES
Epidemiologic study about restless legs syndrome and migraine (Abstract)*. Dissertation. Ribeirão Preto, 2010
Karen dos Santos Ferreira**
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor disorder with prevalence between 2.5% and 10% in white population. The pathophysiology of RLS involves a dysfunction of the dopaminergic neurotransmitter system. Migraine attacks may also be influenced by dopamine. We developed a study to evaluate a possible association between migraine and RLS. Patients were recruited among the employees of the Clinic Hospital - Medical School of Ribeirão Preto - University of São Paulo, Brazil. We interviewed employees with migraine (n=72) and a control group without migraine (n=72) matched by sex and age, aiming to diagnose RLS according to the International RLS Study Group criteria. We registered clinical and demographic data in a structured form, and all subject answered the Beck's Depression Inventory. RLS frequency was significantly higher in patients with migraine than in control subjects [25% vs 8%; p=0.01; odds ratio 3.67 (1.36; 9.88)]. There was no significant association between migraine, RLS and other comorbidities like diabetes, obesity, anemia and drugs used in that study. The type of migraine (with aura or not) and family history did not differ between RLS and control groups. Depression score as measured by Beck's Inventory was more frequent in migraine patients with RLS (p=0.04).
Key words: migraine, restless legs syndrome, dopamine.
