engleski

Transcranial sonography in differential diagnosis of restless legs syndrome

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) has a prevalence of around 10% in general population. Still, it is one of the most underdiagnosed neurological disorders. Non-idiopathic RLS is more frequently found in patients with anaemia. Recent transcranial sonography studies have shown that supstantia nigra (SN) hypoechogenicity apears to be the frequent finding in RLS, just as it is increased blood flow velocity in a. cerebri media (ACM), measured by TCCS, in anaemic patients. Aim of this study was to evaluate the usage of combined TCS/TCCS imaging in diferential diagnosis of idiopathic and secondary RLS. Patients and methods: Twenty patients with RLS symptoms (diagnosis was made according to IRLSSG criteria), ten patients with anaemia (hemoglobin values <12 g/dl) and RLS symptoms, and 20 controls underwent neurological and sonographic examination. Results: Bilateral mean SN area measured on TCS was significantly lower in idiopatic RLS patients versus controls ( 0.090.01 cm2 vs. 0.180, 02 cm2 ; p<0, 01). Values of mean blood floow velocity measured in ACM by TCCS were also higher in RLS patients (123, 247, 33 vs 80, 76, 55 ; p<0, 01) with anaemia, with normal finding of SN area. Conclusion: TCCS in combination with TCS is a useful tool in diagnosing idiopathic RL syndrome, just as it is in differeating idiopathic from secundary RLS due to anaemia.

Restless legs syndrome; TCCS; anemia

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