Restless Legs Syndrome: What Conditions Can Cause It?

Overview

Restless legs syndrome can be a secondary problem caused by another condition. Researchers continue their efforts to understand and define the relationship between this syndrome and:

• Iron deficiency or related anemia. The way the body metabolizes iron and certain proteins in the brain may be related to restless legs syndrome.
• Pregnancy. Approximately 20 out of 100 pregnant women develop restless legs syndrome. Women who have it before they become pregnant may have more noticeable and frequent symptoms during pregnancy.
• Kidney disease.
• Diabetes.
• Neurological diseases, including peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, and possibly radiculopathy (a pinched nerve), which is a disorder of the spinal nerve roots.

When you are diagnosed with restless legs syndrome, you may also be tested for one of these conditions if your symptoms suggest a specific cause. Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following tests: