Restless Legs Syndrome in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Dig Dis Sci. 2007 Oct 13; [Epub ahead of print]

Restless Legs Syndrome in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Response to Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Therapy.

Weinstock LB, Fern SE, Duntley SP. Washington University School of Medicine, 11525 Olde Cabin Road, St. Louis, MO, 63141, USA, lw@gidoctor.net.

Background Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) occurs in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and fibromyalgia. Since restless legs syndrome (RLS) occurs with fibromyalgia, a link between IBS, SIBO, and RLS was studied.

Methods: BS patients with abnormal lactulose breath tests received rifaximin 1,200 mg day(-1) for 10 days, followed by tegaserod 3 mg, long-term, and 1 month of zinc 220 mg day(-1) and once-daily probiotic (N = 11) or rifaximin monotherapy (N = 2). IBS symptom improvement was assessed after rifaximin. RLS symptoms, IBS symptoms, and overall IBS global improvement were assessed at last posttreatment visit: 8/10 patients were followed long-term (mean, 139 days; range, 54-450 days).

Results: Ten of 13 patients exhibited >/=80% improvement from baseline in RLS symptoms. Five maintained complete resolution of RLS symptoms. Global gastrointestinal symptom improvement was great (n = 6), moderate (n = 5), or mild (n = 2).

Conclusion: This study suggests that SIBO associated with IBS may be a factor in some RLS patients and SIBO therapy provides long-term RLS improvement.

PMID: 17934858 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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