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Celiac Disease is Associated with Restless Legs Syndrome


Screening for celiac disease in patients with RLS is important since this commonly overlooked silent disease may be a correctable factor for some patients with idiopathic RLS.

Some of my patients suffered from severe restless legs syndrome long before their celiac disease was diagnosed. There are a number of neurological disorders associated with celiac disease and RLS is now recognized as one of them. An article published in Sleep described 4 iron deficient patients with RLS who were subsequently diagnosed with celiac disease. RLS affects 7-8% of the population. Celiac affects 1% of the population. What is the overlap? How many patients with apparent idiopathic RLS have celiac disease - only time, testing, and good studies will tell.

Dr. Leonard Weinstock

Article: Celiac Disease Is Associated with Restless Legs Syndrome
Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 09/23/2009