Restless leg syndrome a common undiagnosed comorbidity of clinical significance in cirrhosis

AIM: Our aim was to study the prevalence and association of restless leg syndrome (RLS) in liver cirrhosis subjects. BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbances are common in cirrhosis. RLS is a chronic sensorimotor sleep disorder with an irresistible urge to move limbs. METHODS: Two hundred consecutive cirrhosis patients, presenting at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Hospital, Jaipur were evaluated. 157 subjects meeting the inclusion criteria were selected for further evaluation. Revised International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) criteria 2012, was used for diagnosed of RLS. Severity of RLS was evaluated by a validated Hindi translation of International RLS severity (IRLS) scoring system. RESULTS: Of studied 157 cirrhotic, the mean age was 46.4 ± 10 years, 109 (69.43%) males and 48 (30.57%) females. 41 (26.11%) cirrhotic subjects had RLS. Child Turcotte Pugh (CTP) Class (A 9/55, B 15/68, C 17/34; p 0.043) and alcohol as etiology for liver dysfunction (p 0.03) were significantly associated with RLS. CONCLUSION: RLS is common comorbidity in cirrhosis, especially in alcohol related cirrhosis. RLS has a clinical correlation with prognosis & severity of cirrhosis.