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Restless legs syndrome is not associated with migraine with aura: a clinical study

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Abstract

Based on recent data about the association between restless legs syndrome (RLS) and migraine, we performed an observational study on the occurrence of RLS in patients affected by “pure” migraine with aura (pMA). We recruited 63 patients (33 females and 30 males) affected by MA without other types of primary headache among all patients referred in five Italian headache centers in a 1-year period. The prevalence of RLS in pMA patients (9.5%) is similar to that observed in Italian headache-free subjects (8.3%). No significant differences were found between pMA patients with and without RLS about clinical features of MA attacks and systemic and psychiatric diseases were investigated. Moreover, no association appeared between RLS and familial cases of MA. Differently from migraine without aura, our data do not confirm the existence of an association between RLS and MA, not even when a genetic factor is involved.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by F.I.CEF. onlus (Fondazione Italiana Cefalee) grant.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurology Unit, Headache Center, “S. G. Moscati”, Avellino, Italy

    F. d’Onofrio & V. Petretta

  2. Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Clinical Neurophysiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria “Ospedali Riuniti”, 71100, Foggia, Italy

    D. Cologno & G. Marsala

  3. Department of Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Genetics, Headache Center, University of Genova, Genova, Italy

    C. Finocchi

  4. Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatric and Anesthesiologic Sciences, Neurology and Neuromuscle Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico “G. Martino”, Messina, Italy

    M. Autunno

  5. Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute C. Besta, Milan, Italy

    S. Usai, L. Grazzi & G. Bussone

  6. Italian Institute of Telemedicine, Varese, Italy

    S. Omboni

  7. Unit for Care and Research of Headaches and Pain, IRCCS “S. Raffaele Pisana”, Rome, Italy

    L. Fofi & P. Barbanti

Authors
  1. F. d’Onofrio
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  2. D. Cologno
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  3. V. Petretta
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  4. C. Finocchi
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  5. M. Autunno
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  6. G. Marsala
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  7. S. Usai
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  8. L. Grazzi
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  9. S. Omboni
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  10. L. Fofi
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  11. P. Barbanti
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  12. G. Bussone
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Cologno.

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d’Onofrio, F., Cologno, D., Petretta, V. et al. Restless legs syndrome is not associated with migraine with aura: a clinical study. Neurol Sci 32 (Suppl 1), 153–156 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-011-0516-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-011-0516-5

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