Restless leg venous insufficiency

Restless leg syndrome is a disease that forces the legs to move, characterized by pain, burning, crumbling, numbness, tingling, feeling of electricity, itching and burning. Symptoms develop during night sleep or during inactivity or rest during the day. The need to constantly move the legs seriously impairs sleep quality and adversely affects daily life.

Restless legs syndrome is seen at any age in about 10% of the adult population. It is two times more common in women than in men.

There are genetic causes in 50% of restless legs syndrome, and there is a decrease in dopamine and iron stores in basal ganglia. Also, secondary causes are associated with disease, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, kidney failure, B12 deficiency, amyloidosis, iron deficiency anemia, peripheral neuropathy and multiple sclerosis. The course of the disease negatively affects alcohol, caffeine, lithium, beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, anti-dopaminergic agents.

Restless leg syndrome triggered by chronic diseases, response to treatment is good. For example, the restless leg developed due to iron deficiency may improve with iron treatment.

Antiparkinsonian drugs such as carbidopa, levodopa, pergolid, bromocriptine are beneficial since the disease has a Parkinson-like physiopathology in cases with unknown cause in treatment.

Complaints in venous insufficiency and restless leg syndrome are quite similar. Both are common in women, complaints begin at rest, and decrease with movement. Therefore, restless leg is considered a symptom of venous insufficiency. In restless legs syndrome accompanied by venous insufficiency, unlike cases without venous insufficiency, cramping is very common. Venous insufficiency is present in 22% of restless legs. In cases accompanied by venous insufficiency, venous insufficiency can be corrected in both diseases with treatment. Almost complete improvement in 30% of patients and severe decrease in symptoms in 80% of patients. Therefore, it should be investigated whether there is venous insufficiency in patients with restless legs before starting treatment.

Prof.Dr.ilhan Gölbaşı