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Nephrol Dial Transplant (2003) 18: 217
© 2003 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association

Letters and Replies

Restless leg syndrome in maintenance haemodialysis patients

Manveer Bhatia and Dipankar Bhowmik

All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi India Email: dmbhowmik{at}rediffmail.com

Sir,

In the May issue of Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Sabbatini et al. [1] discussed insomnia in maintenance haemodialysis patients. They found that the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in their patients was 46%. Their methodology for diagnosis of RLS was using a questionnaire devised by Holley et al. in 1992 [2]. As several conditions including cramps, neuropathy and akathisia may mimic RLS, the International RLS Study Group (IRLSSG) has formulated a well-designed questionnaire for accurate diagnosis of the condition [3]. These include: (i) a sensation of an urge to move the limbs (usually legs); (ii) motor restlessness to reduce sensations; (iii) quescegenic: onset or worsening of symptoms when at rest; and (iv) marked circadian variation in occurrence or severity of symptoms. RLS is diagnosed only if the responses to all the four questions are affirmative. The questionnaire used by the authors does not include all the IRLSSG questions relevant to the diagnosis of RLS. Hence, we feel that the figure quoted by them may not reflect a true picture of the prevalence of RLS in their patients.

References

  1. Sabbatini M, Minale B, Crispo A et al. Insomnia in maintenance haemodialysis patients. Nephrol Dial Transplant2002; 17:852–856[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  2. Holley JL, Nespor S, Rault R. A comparison of reported sleep disorders in patients on chronic hemodialysis and continuous peritoneal dialysis. Am J Kidney Dis1992; 19:156–161[Medline]
  3. Walters AS and the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group. Toward a better definition of the legs syndrome. Mov Disord1995; 10:634–642[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]

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This Article
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