Restless legs syndrome (RLS): clinical features
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Restless legs syndrome (RLS): clinical features. There is an urge to move. This starts and is worse at rest. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Diagnostic features
- There is an urge to move
- This starts and is worse at rest
- There is relief with movement
- It is worse in the evening and at night
- There may be a positive family history
- There may be associated periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS)
- There is improvement on Levodopa
Other features
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Variants of RLS
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RLS in men
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Reasons for progression of RLS on treatment
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Predictors of medication refractoriness
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Predictors of RLS progression to a synucleinopathy
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References
- Chahine LM, Chemali ZN. Restless legs syndrome: a review. CNS Spectr 2006; 11:511-520.
- Leschziner G, Gringras P. Restless legs syndrome. BMJ 2012; 344:e3056.
- Zhang C, Li Y, Malhotra A, Ning Y, Gao X. Restless legs syndrome status as a predictor of lower physical function. Neurology 2014; 82:1212-1218.
- Bayard S, Langenier MC, Dauvilliers Y. Decision-making, reward-seeking behaviors and dopamine agonist therapy in restless legs syndrome. Sleep 2013; 36:1501-1507.
- Perez-Diaz H, Iranzo A, Rye DB, Santamaria J. Restless abdomen: a phenotypic variant of restless legs syndrome. Neurology 2011; 77: 1283-1286.
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