Parasitosis as a potential risk factor in restless leg syndrome: Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The pathophysiology of restless leg syndrome is not yet clear, but the dopaminergic system is thought to play a role in its pathogenesis. Recent studies have shown that pre- and postsynaptic dopaminergic neuronal receptor abnormalities exist in the basal ganglia in restless leg syndrome. This study aimed to investigate whether Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. infections are possible causes of neuropathological involvement in restless leg syndrome (RLS) patients.

METHODS

The study sample comprised a total of 174 participants, including 99 pa-tients with RLS and 75 healthy controls. The presence of anti-T. gondii IgG and anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies was subsequently investigated using ELISA (EUROIMMUN). The relationship between the severity of the disease, as categorized into four stages, and the seropositivity of T. gondii and Toxocara were examined.

RESULTS

The rate of anti-T. gondii anti-body positivity was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (p.

CONCLUSION

Chronic T. gondii and Toxocara infections may contribute to the pathogenic mechanisms underlying RLS, and chronic toxoplasmosis may increase RLS disease severity. This study may help improve screen- ing approaches in the management of RLS.