Dimitriadou Euthimia, Giannaki Christoforos D, Tsekoura Maria, Stefanidis Ioannis, Hadjigeorgiou Georgios M, Lavdas Eleftherios, Karatzaferi Christina, Sakkas Giorgos K
Department of Haematology, General Hospital of Trikala, Trikala, Greece.
Department of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Sleep Breath. 2018 Mar;22(1):175-179. doi: 10.1007/s11325-017-1497-2. Epub 2017 Apr 19.
Both beta thalassemia and restless legs syndrome (RLS) patients share some common pathophysiological characteristics related to iron handling. In the present study, the aim was to explore the prevalence of RLS as well as to explore potential association between the syndrome and various quality of life-related parameters in a sample of beta thalassemia patients.
One hundred fourteen (age 40 ± 11 yr, 59 M/55F) beta thalassemia patients participated in this cross-sectional descriptive study. Patients were screened for RLS based on the international RLS study group diagnostic criteria as well as a battery of validated questionnaires.
The prevalence of RLS in this sample of beta thalassemia patients was zero. The quality of life score was low (78 ± 18). Iron levels were within normal range (191 ± 66 mcg/dL) while ferritin levels were high as expected (1836 ± 225 ng/dL).
Our sample of patients comes from central Greece where the prevalence of RLS in the general population is 4% while in renal failure patients is 27%. To our surprise, there was no presence of RLS among this sample of beta thalassemia patients. The adequate levels of iron and ferritin often seen in these patients could be the reason of the absence of RLS symptoms.
β地中海贫血患者和不宁腿综合征（RLS）患者具有一些与铁代谢相关的共同病理生理特征。在本研究中，目的是探讨RLS在β地中海贫血患者样本中的患病率，并探讨该综合征与各种生活质量相关参数之间的潜在关联。
114名（年龄40±11岁，59名男性/55名女性）β地中海贫血患者参与了这项横断面描述性研究。根据国际RLS研究组的诊断标准以及一系列经过验证的问卷对患者进行RLS筛查。
该β地中海贫血患者样本中RLS的患病率为零。生活质量得分较低（78±18）。铁水平在正常范围内（191±66微克/分升），而铁蛋白水平如预期较高（1836±225纳克/分升）。
我们的患者样本来自希腊中部，该地区普通人群中RLS的患病率为4%，而肾衰竭患者中为27%。令我们惊讶的是，该β地中海贫血患者样本中未出现RLS。这些患者中常见的铁和铁蛋白水平充足可能是没有RLS症状的原因。
