Restless legs syndrome, with particular reference to its occurrence after gastric surgery

Abstract

There is a higher incidence of restless legs syndrome (Ekbom's syndrome) in patients after gastric surgery (11.3%) and with diabetes mellitus (17.0%) and uraemia (17.3%) than in patients who have been diagnosed as having a psychonoeurosis (4.0%) and in controls (2.0%). Three patients with malabsorption syndrome complained of restless legs, but these patients had abnormal neurological signs. The incidence after gastric surgery and in diabetes mellitus and uraemia remained high even when patients with any abnormal neurological signs were excluded. © 1970, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.