The specific causes of restless legs syndrome (RLS) are not known. Disease in the blood vessels of the legs or in the nerves in the legs that control leg movement and sensation was once thought to cause RLS, but both of these suggestions have been rejected.
RLS may be related to abnormalities in brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that help regulate muscle movements, or to abnormalities in the part of the central nervous system that controls automatic movements. Research is still being done in these areas.
RLS can sometimes be caused by an underlying medical condition (secondary RLS); however, most of the time the cause is not clear.
What Medical Conditions Are Linked to RLS?
Many different medical conditions have been linked to RLS. The two most common conditions are iron-deficiency anemia (low blood count) and peripheral neuropathy (damage to the nerves of the arms and legs, often caused by underlying conditions such as diabetes).
Other medical conditions linked to RLS include
Parkinson's disease
Varicose veins
Some tumors
Fibromyalgia
Hyper- or hypothyroidism (over- or underactive thyroid glands)
Pregnancy
Cigarette smoking
Vitamin and mineral deficiency, such as magnesium deficiency and vitamin B-12 deficiency
Severe kidney disease and uremia (kidney failure causing build up of toxins within the body)
Amyloidosis (build-up of a starch-like substance in the body's tissues and organs)
Lyme disease
Damage to spinal nerves
Rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren syndrome
Certain medications or substances, such as
Alcohol
Caffeine
Anticonvulsant drugs (such as Dilantin)
Antidepressant drugs (including amitriptyline, Paxil)
Beta-blockers (drugs often used to treat high blood pressure)
Antipsychotics
Withdrawal from certain drugs, such as vasodilator drugs (for example, Apresoline), sedatives, or antidepressants (for example, Tofranil)
What Are the Risk Factors for RLS?
In many cases, RLS seems to run in families. People with a genetic link to RLS tend to get the condition earlier in life.
