Abstract

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a movement disorder that is characterized by a strong desire to move the legs during rest and sleep and it leads in disturbance of quality of life for hemodialysis patients. Biochemical factors and inflammatory processes have an important role in the pathogenesis of this syndrome. The aim of this study is to compare the serum levels of calcium, iron, hemoglobin and CRP in hemodialysis patients with and without restless legs syndrome. This cross-sectional study carried out on 74 patients with chronic hemodialysis in Zabol University of Medical Sciences (including 62 patients with Restless Legs Syndrome and 12 Patients without Restless legs syndrome). The including criteria were: at least six months had hemodialysis three times weekly and their hemodialysis last between 3 - 4 hours. Data gathered by a questionnaire about restless legs syndrome. At the same time completing the questionnaire, the patients' biochemical parameters were measured. The data was analyzed by SPSS software version 21.0. The results showed that 83.7 of hemodialysis patients involved with RLS. The findings showed that there was not any significant relationship between hemoglobin, iron, CRP with RLS,while there was a significant relationship between the mean of calcium and RLS ((P=0.026). Considering that the calcium levels was much lower in hemodialysis patients with RLS than non-involved patients, performing the screening tests to measure calcium to provide the necessary measures is necessary to improve the clinical symptoms of the RLS.