Restless Legs Syndrome Diagnosis
How is restless legs syndrome diagnosed?
There is no single diagnostic RLS test. The patient is evaluated clinically. Unfortunately, the condition is often misdiagnosed.
In 1995, the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group identified 4 criteria for diagnosing RLS:
- a desire to move the limbs, often associated with paresthesias or dysesthesias,
- symptoms that are worse or present only during rest and are partially or temporarily relieved by activity,
- motor restlessness,
- nocturnal worsening of symptoms.
In 2003, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) modified their criteria to include the following:
- an urge to move the limbs with or without sensations
- worsening at rest
- improvement with activity
- worsening in the evening or night.
The clinical diagnosis of RLS is rather difficult due to the fact that the physicians must heavily rely on patients' descriptions of symptoms and their past medical problems, including family history and current medications. The diagnosis is especially difficult with children, because the symptoms may be too difficult for a child to describe.
A list of laboratory test that can be performed:
- Blood tests to exclude anemia, decreased iron stores, diabetes, and renal dysfunction.
- Electromyography and nerve conduction studies to measure electrical activity in muscles and nerves.
- Doppler sonography to evaluate muscle activity in the legs.
- Polysomnography to record the patient's brain waves, heartbeat, and breathing during sleep.