Background: Recurrent bleeding in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) can lead to chronic iron deficiency anemia (CIDA). Existing research points to CIDA as a contributing factor in restless leg syndrome (RLS). The association between HHT-related symptoms and the prevalence of RLS was analyzed. Methods: An online survey was conducted whereby the standardized RLS-Diagnostic Index questionnaire (RLS-DI) was supplemented with 82 additional questions relating to HHT. Results: A total of 474 persons responded to the survey and completed responses for questions pertaining to RLS (mean age: 56 years, 68% females). Per RLS-DI criteria, 48 patients (48/322, 15%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 11–19%) self-identified as having RLS. An analysis of physician-diagnosed RLS and the RLS-DI revealed a relative frequency of RLS in HHT patients of 22% (95% CI: 18–27%). In fact, 8% (25/322; 95% CI: 5–11%) of the HHT patients had RLS which had not been diagnosed before. This equals 35% of the total amount of patients diagnosed with RLS (25/72; 95% CI: 25–46%). HHT patients with a history of gastrointestinal bleeding (prevalence ratio (PR) = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.53–4.77), blood transfusions (PR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.27–2.86), or iron intake (PR = 2.05, 95% CI: 0.99–4.26) had an increased prevalence of RLS. Conclusions: Our data suggest that RLS is underdiagnosed in HHT. In addition, physicians should assess CIDA parameters for possible iron supplementation.
CITATION STYLE
Droege, F., Stang, A., Thangavelu, K., Lueb, C., Lang, S., Xydakis, M., & Geisthoff, U. (2021). Restless leg syndrome is underdiagnosed in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia—results of an online survey. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10091993
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