The Relationship Between RLS And Lung Transplants

Prevalence of Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) in the general population has been found to range between 2.5 and 15 percent. A cross-sectional study also suggests that around 45% of patients are victimized by RLS after heart transplantation. In another significant study of solid organ transplant, it was observed that RLS disappeared after kidney transplantation of the patients on hemodialysis.

Restless Leg Syndrome in lung transplant recipients

There has been no significant research for determining the relationship between transplant patients and RLS. However, some evidence can be extracted from a study that was conducted to measure the severity, prevalence and risk factors of RLS in a population of lung transplant recipients.

The study included 42 patients who had undergone lung transplant. The patients included in the study had no family history of RLS. Standard therapy was applied on all the patients that included prophylactic medication and immunosuppression. To determine the severity of RLS, and whether the patient fulfilled the criteria for RLS, the patients were supplied with two sets of questionnaires.

The outcome of the research suggested that 20 of 42 (47.6%) patients receiving lung transplant were victims of RLS. Out of the RLS affected patients, 80% of them showed severity in symptoms and were grouped in moderate to severe category. Interestingly, it was found that 75% of the population diagnosed with RLS was women.

All the patients with hypothyroid, 4 of 42 (9.5%), reported RLS. Another interesting revelation was that the patients with RLS had higher concentrations of calcium in their blood than those not suffering from RLS. Further, the study also uncovered that those affected with RLS have a greater chance of testing positive for Cytomegalovirus (CMV). This virus is found in the patients undergoing transplant due to immunosuppression medications.

This research study suggests that those receiving lung transplantation suffer from a greater risk of RLS, with an even greater risk for women. Associated risk factors would be hypothyroid, high levels of calcium, and testing positive for CMV.