Authors: Shadi Ghourchian Parviz Bahrami
Publish Date: 2014/07/02
Volume: 35, Issue: 12, Pages: 1909-1913
Abstract
Restless leg syndrome RLS is a common disorder described as an urge to move the legs Dopamine the main neurotransmitter in the pathophysiology of RLS is likely related to the development of brain laterality and human handedness We aimed to compare the prevalence of RLS in right and nonright handers A checklist including Edinburgh questioner for handedness questions for RLS diagnosis and basic characteristics was filled out by a sample of population The exclusion criteria included prolonged use of dopaminergic or psychologic drugs and having diseases with similar symptoms to RLS The frequency of nonright handers in RLS patients was compared with the controls by Chi square test P value less than 005 was considered significant 164 persons were divided into RLS patients 69 and nonRLS controls 95 There was no significant difference between demographic characteristics The prevalence of nonright handers in RLS patients was significantly more than nonRLS controls P 003 Our finding regarding the higher prevalence of nonright handers in RLS patients needs more justifications based on neuroscientists’ guides RLS as a disease in which dopaminergic system involves is highly assumed to be linked with handedness This is just a hypothesis that impaired modulation of immune system in left handers may be accompanied with lower dopamine levels in RLS
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