Brief Article
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 21, 2011; 17(39): 4404-4407
Published online Oct 21, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i39.4404
Prevalence of restless legs syndrome in patients with irritable bowel syndrome
P Patrick Basu, N James Shah, Nithya Krishnaswamy, Tommy Pacana
P Patrick Basu, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Liver Trans-plant, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, United States
P Patrick Basu, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Liver Transplant, New York Hospital Queens, Flushing, NY 11355, United States
P Patrick Basu, Internal Medicine, Forest Hills Hospital, Forest Hills, NY 11375, United States
N James Shah, Nithya Krishnaswamy, Tommy Pacana, Internal Medicine, Forest Hills Hospital, Forest Hills, NY 11375, United States
Author contributions: This study was designed, organized, and executed by Basu PP; Manuscript development, writing and review was performed by Basu PP, Shah NJ, Krishnaswamy N and Pacana T.
Correspondence to: P Patrick Basu, MD, Internal Medicine, Forest Hills Hospital, 5 Station Square, Forest Hills Gardens, NY 11375, United States. patbasumd@aol.com
Telephone: +1-718-8970584 Fax: +1-718-8965571
Received: November 9, 2010
Revised: February 15, 2011
Accepted: February 22, 2011
Published online: October 21, 2011
Abstract

AIM: To determine the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

METHODS: Patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS (n = 30), constipation-predominant IBS (n = 30), or mixed-symptom IBS (n = 30) were recruited from the community between March 2008 and February 2009. Rifaximin 200 mg three times daily was administered empirically to alleviate small intestinal bowel overgrowth in all patients. The presence of RLS was assessed via an RLS questionnaire and polysomnography.

RESULTS: Twenty-six patients with IBS (29%) were diagnosed with RLS using the RLS questionnaire. Twenty-four of the 26 patients (92%) underwent polysomnography, and all had confirmation of RLS. A greater percentage of patients with RLS had diarrhea-predominant IBS (62%) compared with patients with constipation-predominant IBS (4%) or mixed-symptom IBS (33%).

CONCLUSION: Restless legs syndrome is prevalent in patients with IBS, especially those with diarrheal symptoms. Assessment of concomitant disorders may improve diagnosis and expand relevant treatment options for patients.

Keywords: Restless legs syndrome; Irritable bowel syndrome; Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth; Prevalence