Published in:
01-12-2020 | Insomnia | Research article
Restless abdomen: a spectrum or a phenotype variant of restless legs syndrome?
Authors:
Xi-Xi Wang, Xiao-Ying Zhu, Zan Wang, Jian-Wei Dong, William G. Ondo, Yun-Cheng Wu
Published in:
BMC Neurology
|
Issue 1/2020
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Abstract
Background
With the growing awareness of restless legs syndrome (RLS), sensory disorders similar to RLS but initially confined to the arms, abdomen, and perineum have been reported. One of them is restless abdomen, which refers to a restless sensation in abdomen. Our study is designed to evaluate the clinical phenotype of restless abdomen and investigate its relationship with RLS.
Methods
We enrolled 10 patients with restless abdomen according to RLS diagnostic criteria, excluding the requiring of leg involvement. Laboratory examinations were performed to exclude mimics and notable comorbidities.
Results
All 10 patients had RLS like symptoms in the abdomen and otherwise satisfied all other RLS diagnostic criteria, and responded to dopaminergic therapy.
Conclusions
Neurologists and gastroenterologists should be aware that RLS-related restlessness can occur in extra-leg anatomy in the absence of episodes of worsening or augmentation of restlessness.