Leg Cramps and Restless Legs Syndrome During Pregnancy

Hensley, Jennifer G.

doi:10.1016/j.jmwh.2009.01.003

Cited by 63 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 45 publications

(73 reference statements)

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“…The RLS prevalence remained between 5 and 6% up to 6 months after delivery, and most of the women with persisting RLS after delivery complained of this syndrome before their pregnancy [14]. The apparition that occurred mostly during the third trimester as shown in our study and the dramatic and rapid improvement of RLS after delivery explain why only counseling that is related to lifestyle changes [13,34] and iron status assessment [33,34] should be provided.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Restless Legs Syndrome and Pregnancy: A Questionnaire Study in the Poitiers District, France

Neau

Porcheron²,

Mathis³

et al. 2010

Eur Neurol

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Aims: To perform a large and detailed epidemiologic study on restless legs syndrome (RLS) during pregnancy in a European country. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was distributed by the medical staff in different outpatient waiting rooms (obstetrics and gynecology department of the university hospital, obstetrics and gynecology department of a private clinic, private midwives, private obstetrician-gynecologists, radiological centers before fetal ultrasound examination and general practitioners) in a French town and its surrounding area (200,000 inhabitants): A woman was considered affected if she met the International RLS Study Group criteria for RLS diagnosis. Results: 1,022 pregnant women living in a French town were included. 24% of women were affected by RLS during their pregnancy. The disease was strongly related to the third trimester of pregnancy and had a significant impact on sleep leading to severe nocturnal and diurnal consequences with a high consumption of sleep medication. Conclusions: RLS affects one quarter of pregnant women, essentially during the third trimester and represents an important public health issue with sleep medication intake.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Restless Legs Syndrome and Pregnancy: A Questionnaire Study in the Poitiers District, France

Neau

Porcheron²,

Mathis³

et al. 2010

Eur Neurol

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show abstract

“…Although there is no allowed treatment, some of the women who presented a severe RLS during pregnancy sought treatment for it. However, most of the time, only counselling that is related to lifestyle changes [14,34] and iron status assessment [34,35] should be provided.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Restless Legs Syndrome and Pregnancy: Follow-Up of Pregnant Women before and after Delivery

et al. 2010

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Aims: To describe the frequency of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a French population of randomly selected women during their third trimester of pregnancy and its evolution up to 3 months after delivery and to identify potential factors associated with the improvement of RLS after delivery. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Results: 186 pregnant women living in a French town were included. 32% of women were affected by RLS during the third trimester of their pregnancy. Multiple pregnancies and iron intake during pregnancy were significantly associated with RLS during the third trimester. RLS disappeared after delivery among 64.8% of the women, and by less than 2 weeks after delivery in half of them. This improvement after delivery was not associated with the number of previous pregnancies, the RLS severity and iron intake during pregnancy, peridural anaesthesia, caesarean section, delivery complications, newborn weight, breastfeeding, dopaminergic agent intake after delivery, and with the absence of RLS before pregnancy. Conclusions: RLS affects one third of pregnant women during their third trimester and usually improves after delivery. Although there is no allowed treatment, most of the time only counselling and iron status assessment should be provided.

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“…3,4 The development of secondary RLS during pregnancy has been attributed to a number of pregnancy-mediated metabolic and hemodynamic changes, including (1) deficiencies in iron and folate metabolism, a consequence of the increased requirements during pregnancy; (2) dopaminergic dysregulation as a consequence of iron deficiency; and (3) hormonal changes, namely the release of prolactin during pregnancy and its depressive effect on dopamine, as well as increased neuronal activity precipitated by elevated progesterone levels. [4][5][6] Autonomic dysfunction with predominance of sympathetic discharge has also been implicated in the pathophysiology of RLS and periodic limb movement, with a significant fraction of patients with RLS experiencing periodic limb movements. Chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis in the development of RLS are also cornerstones of cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, and diabetes development, hence, the described associations between RLS, CVD, and metabolic complications 7 in various populations 8,9 including women.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%