Treatment of Leg Veins for Restless Leg Syndrome: A Retrospective Review

Background: Restless leg syndrome (RLS) and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) share similar circadian timings and epidemiological characteristics. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate whether treating superficial venous reflux (SVR) improves the RLS severity in patients with CVI and whether there is an association of the RLS severity with the number of refluxed veins. Materials and methods: Patients with RLS and duplex ultrasound-proven SVR were identified from a database of 134 patients. All patients underwent endovenous radiofrequency ablation and ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy. International RLS (IRLS) rating scale questionnaires were reviewed to assess pre- and post-intervention RLS status. Results: Thirty-five patients were identified. The average baseline IRLS score was 19.83 (moderate RLS) and improved to 7.89 (mild RLS) after treatment (p < .0001), corresponding to 63% decrease in symptoms. Ten patients (29%) had a follow-up score of 0, indicating complete relief of RLS symptoms. Twenty patients (57%) had decreased IRLS scores of 10 points or more (i.e. 1 grade level of severity). Six patients had no improvement. There was no association of the RLS severity with the number of refluxed veins. Conclusion: The study found that correcting SVR improves RLS symptoms, suggesting an association between CVI and RLS. Venous ultrasound study and intervention should be considered for potential patients.