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Background and purpose: Due to the high annual birth rate of thalassemia major in our country, its prevention by prenatal diagnosis is of important priority. Gene mutation remains unknown in 10-20% of thalassemia trait people in Iran. In these cases, linkage analysis using polymorphic sites which are located near or within the gene is necessary to follow the mutant or the normal chromosome. SspI polymorphic site which is studied for the first time in Iran is located in the second intron of beta globin gene. The aim of this study was to determine the polymorphism frequency of this site in Mazandaran province.
Materials and Methods: Peripheral blood of 211 thalassemia trait patients living in Mazandaran province was collected. After DNA extraction and amplification of the beta globin gene region containing the SspI polymorphic site, the effect of SspI restriction enzyme was evaluated on agarose gel.
Results: In 422 analyzed chromosomes, 20.6% were negative for SspI polymorphic site. Negative sites were almost equally associated with normal and mutant alleles (11.9% and 14.3% respectively).
Conclusion: SspI site analysis can be applied to follow the normal or mutant alleles of beta globin gene.

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Background and purpose: Low serum ferritin levels correlate with low iron stores, whereas high levels are associated with an acute-phase reaction. Our objective was to determine whether elevated levels of ferritin in the genital tract can be a potential marker to identify patients at risk for spontaneous preterm delivery.
Materials and Methods: We performed a nested case-control study involving 28 women who had spontaneous preterm delivery. 28 term control subjects mathched for parity, age, education, previous history of PTL and vaginal bleeding selected from 275 women enrolled in the preterm prediction study of the prenatal care unit at Imam hospital. Cervical ferritin was measured using radoimmunoassay.
Results: Cervical ferritin levels were significantly higher in women who subsequently had spontaneous early preterm delivery (mean SD: 54.5 5 ng/ml VS 36.39 1.59 in control, P=0.001).
Conclusion: Elevated cervical ferritin levels in 22=24 weeks of gestation in asymptomatic women are associated with subsequent spontaneous preterm birth. Cervical ferritin, alone or in combination with other potential markers, maybe a useful tool to help identify high risk women who would potentially benefit from such prospective intervention. Until the identification of such clinical interventions in a clinical trial, the use of cervical ferritin for the prediction of preterm delivery remains experimental.

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Background and purpose: Infectious diseases account for approximately one-half of all deaths in tropical country. In developed country, despite the progress made on the control of disease, incidence of epidemics due to drug resistant microorganisms and unknown diseases spreading microbes pose enormous public health concerns. On the other hand, in spite of improvements in food production hygiene, food safety is increasingly an important health issue. There is, therefore, still a need for new antimicrobial agent to reduce or eliminate foodborne pathogen as well as food spoilage microorganisms. Historically, plants play a major role in primary health-care as therapeutic remedies in developing countries. The screening of plant extracts has been of great interest to scientists for the discovery of new drugs effective in the treatment of infectious disease. Umbelleferea is known to be a potential source for the antimicrobial agents. The present study attempts to investigate the antimicrobial activity of Pycnocycla spinosa as a member of Umbelleferea against selected microorganisms.
Materials and Methods: The plants were collected from Isfahan and different solvent extracts of plants were prepared. Then, the antimicrobial activity of extract was determined, using disk diffusion method. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by tube dilution method.
Results: Results demonstrated that different extracts of plants indicate antimicrobial activity against bucillu subtilis, aspergiluse niger and candida albicans. Generally, the antimicrobial activity of the plant’s fruit extracts is considered medium.
Conclusion: Pycnocycla spinosa fruit's extract showed medium antimicrobial activity. Hydroalcoholic extract of the fruit demonstrated higher antimicrobial activity. This may reflect a low concentration of active components in extracts. Further studies are needed to investigate antimicrobial activity of the plant's essential oil and other parts of the plant.

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Background and Purpose: Varthemia persica is an aromatic plant belonging to the Astraceae family. The plant is endemic to Iran. It contains volatile oils and the main constituents of volatile oils are sesquiterepens. There is no information regarding flavonoid constituents.
Materials and Methods: Extract was prepared from freeze-dried power of flower, fruit and aerial parts with methanol-water (1-1) and HCl (1.2 M). Determination of myricetin, Lute Olin, apigenin, quercetin and kaempferol in all samples were carried out by HPLC.
Results: The plant flowers contain all five mentioned flavonoids, however, fruit and aerial parts contain only kaempferol, lute Olin and quercetin.
Conclusion: The plants can be considered as flavonoid containing plant and are a good candidate for pharmacological studies.

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Background and Purpose: β-thalassaemia is the most frequent inherited disorder in the world, especially in Iran and Mazandaran Province. It is caused by mulation in β-globin gene on chromosome 11 with more than 150 different mulations causing β-thalassaemia, has been identified in the β-globin gene to date. Hydroxyurea, is one of the drugs used in Thalassemia patient’s treatment, however, it is not effective in all patients. The mechanisms of the hydroxyuea effect in not clear yet. This study compared different β-globin gene mutations in β-thalassaemia patients who were referred to the Thalassemia Research Center in Sari in two groups, good responder and non-responder, to the hydroxyurea.
Materials and Methods: This was a case-control study, comparing two groups of 30 thalassaemic patients who received hydroxyurea. Two groups were included, 30 good responders to hydroxyurea treatment (control) and 30 who did not respond to the treatment (case). First, DNA was extracted from peripheral blood. Then, two different methods for mutation detection were used. In the Thalassaemia Research Center in Sari, mutations in 60 patients were identified using ARMS-PCR. Also the results were confirmed in Genetic laboratory of Amirkola, using two mutation detection methods, reverse-dot blot hybridization and ARMS-PCR.
Results: In the group of good responder (control), the average patient’s age were 28/1 ± 7/78 years, and the average age at the onset of blood transfusion was reported to be 8/5 ± 8/56 year. In this group, the mean comparison of the hemoglobin level and red blood size (MCV) prior and after drug consumption were statistically significant. In the group of non-responder (case), the mean age was 21.3 ± 6.43, the mean age starting blood transfusions was 3.3 ± 3.75, and the mean of drug consumption was 2.3 ± 0.8 months. From the mutations identified, IVSII-1G>A was the most common type in both case and control group, while of 30 of control group, 22 individuals were homozygous, and 7 individuals were heterozygous for this mutation (frequency % 42.5). For the 30 case patients, 11 individuals were homozygous, while 11 were heterozygous (frequency % 27.5). Comparison between two groups, case and control group, were statistically significance (P<0.008).
Conclusion: The correlations of IVSII-1G>A mutation in good responder patients to hydroxyurea as compared to the non responder group, is significant and similar to the previous findings.

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Background and purpose: Beta-thalassemia is the most common inherited disorder in the world, especially in Iran. According to Iranian thalassemia society registry, 18616 thalassemia patients now living in Iran, which Mazandaran and Fars provinces have the most patients. Previous reports have shown that the frequency of b-thalassemia carriers is more than 10% in Mazandaran province. Although b-thalassemia is very heterogenous in the molecular level, but in each population, 5 to 10 mutations are more common. In this research common mutation in eastern area of Mazadaran province was investigated.
Materials and methods: 5 to 10 ml peripheral blood samples were collected from volunteer patients who were referred to Boali Sina Hospital in Sari. DNA was extracted from blood, then 20 different mutations were screened and detected using two different methods, ARMS-PCR and Reverse-Dot Blot in Thalassemia Research Center in Sari and Amir Kola Thalassemia Center.
Results: From 240 chromosomes investigated in 120 b-thalassemia patients in total, 96.25% mutations were identified. 13 different mutations were identified from 231 chromosomes. Among different mutations investigated, IVSII-1G>A was detected as the most common with frequency of 68/3%, which was homozygous in 64 individuals (53/3%) and compound heterozygous with other mutations in 34 individuals (28/3%) respectively. Mutations C8(-AA), codon22(G>A)/ FSC 22/23/24(-7bp), codon 30(G>A), and IVSII-1G>A were identified in 83% of chromosomes which were studied (200 chromosomes from 240).
Conclusion: Mutation IVSII-1G>A is the most common mutation in northern provinces (Gilan, mazandaran, Golestan) in recent study. Also, comparison of these results with the similar finding from other provinces showed that the distributions of mutations in the northern area are different with northwest, south or southeast of the country.

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Background and purpose: Every year million people have poisoning. Most of them will die duo to severity of complications. Identifying the pattern of poisoning will help to prevent of them. Because of the non medicine material have a wide variety range and easily is used between people, so the aim of this study was to determine frequency of non-medicinal poisoning according to 10th revision of International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) in hospitalized patient. Materials and methods: This is a descriptive cross section study. The medical records of inpatient hospitalized in hospitals of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences during 2010-2011 were reviewed. The ICD-10 codes for retrieval patient records were T51-T65 which was included alcohol, organic solvent, halogen derivatives, corrosive substance, detergent, metals, inorganic substance, carbon monoxide, gases, fumes and vapors, pesticide, noxious substance eaten as seafood, noxious substance eaten as food, unspecified substances. The data were analyzed with SPSS and descriptive and X2 statistics. Results: Of the 1546 in patient with diagnosed poisoning, the 581(37l5%) were non medicine poisoning. Median of age 29±17 years, 231(39l8%) female, 300(51l6%) are intentional, and the most material were insecticide (276(47.5%), sting 96(16.3%) and alcohol 76(13%) and organic solvent 40 cases and the 38(95%) of them was children. Conclusion: According the result of this study the most cause of poisoning was insecticides. Preventive program for all the groups is suggested and for intentional self harms and suicide attempted the program of consultation is necessary.

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Background and purpose: Mutation in factor V Leiden (R506Q), mutation of G20210Â in prothrombin and mutation of Ç667T in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTFHR) are part of genetic variant that increase the risk of thrombosis. The purpose of this study was to define the frequencies of three risk factors among thalassaemia major and thalassaemia intermedia compared with the normal subjects.
Materials and methods: Ïn this study in Sari city, North of Ïran, 164 participants including 59 patients with thalassaemia intermedia, 99 patients with thalassaemia major and 105 normal individuals (as control) were studied. Âfter DNÂ extraction from peripheral blood using the standard method, two different methods, ÂRMS-PÇR and PÇR-RFLP were used to determine the mutation in each of the three genes. Finally, frequency of the alleles was statistically compared.
Results: Frequency of the mutation of G20210Â in normal control was 0.48 percent and it was not seen in patients with thalassaemia major. Frequency of mutant allele Ç667T (allele T) in gene MTHFR were 24 percent in normal subjects, 26 percent in patients with intermedia and 18.4 percent in patients with majors thalassaemia. Frequency of FV leiden were 3.3 percent in normal control, 1.06% in thalassaemia intermedia and 0.48 percent in thalassaemia major.
Çonclusion: The results of this study showed that despite higher thrombotic risk in patients with thalassaemia (especially in thalassaemia intermedia), there was no significant difference among the thalassaemia major, intermedia and normal subjects on three genetic risk factors studied in this research.

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Background and purpose: This study was aimed to assess the reliability and reproducibility of a designed food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and to determine the major dietary pattern of overweight and obese adults in Tabriz, Iran. Materials and methods: The study included two studies: (1) a pilot study (n = 30) assessment of reliability and reproducibility of FFQ, (2) a cross-sectional study (n = 422) aiming to determine the major dietary pattern of overweight and obese adults. A 189-food item FFQ was completed twice with one-month interval for each subjects. Food consumption over one year for 422 adults aged 20-60 years in Tabriz was collected after assessment of reliability and reproducibility of FFQ. Weight and height were measured and body mass index (BMI) was estimated. Factor analysis was used to determine major dietary pattern. Results: Correlation coefficient of the two completed FFQ was varied from 0.60 (for garlic) to 0.97 (for potatoes). Three major dietary patterns were found using factor analysis: "healthy", "western" and "traditional" dietary pattern. Correlation coefficient for the three "Healthy", "Western" and "Traditional" dietary patterns, were 0.90, 0.83 and 0.92, respectively. These dietary patterns included 23% of the total variances. Conclusion: The reliability and reproducibility of the FFQ used in this study was good. There were three major dietary pattern using FFQ among overweight and obese adults in Tabriz.

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Background and purpose: Annually outbreak of cholera is reported in our country. Awareness of the general population about cholera is the cornerstone of disease prevention. The aim of this study was to assess the awareness of general population in Mazandaran province about cholera. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in April 2013. The study population included 425 people of general population attending health centers in Mazandaran province who were randomly selected. They completed a questionnaire containing 10 questions about cholera in the presence of researcher. SPSS ver. 16 was used to analyze the data. Results: The participants were 222 (52.2%) female and 203 (47.8%) male with the mean age of 34±11.50 years. The awareness level were, 27.5% poor (score≤3), 33.2% moderate (score4 and 5), 34.8% good (score 6 and 7) and 4.5% very good (score≥8). We observed low levels of awareness among those aged under 20 and over 60 years old. However, no significant difference was seen in two genders. Conclusion: This study revealed a low level of awareness among general population on cholera. Therefore, educational programs are recommended to enhance the knowledge of people on cholera.

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Background and purpose: Sexual health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality. This study aimed to determine the status of sexual function, its dimensions, and its socio-demographic predictors in women of reproductive age in Tabriz, Iran, in 2013. Materials and methods: Data were collected by Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scale and socio-demographic questionnaire. General liner model analysis was used for modeling of socio-demographic predictors of sexual function. Results: The mean score of sexual function was 65.9 ± 15.8 of the possible range of 0-100. Prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 66%. Sufficiency of household income for expenses and the level of satisfaction of spouse were predictors of sexual function in women. Conclusion: With attention to significant impact of the sexual function on health of women and their families, determining the effective factors on sexual satisfaction can assist strengthening of families.

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Background and purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the chronic liver diseases. ( ) Microalgae – as a functional food and prebiotic agent - is supposed as a new approach in the treatment of NAFLD. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the effect of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris (C. Vulgaris) supplementation on inflammatory factors in patients with NAFLD. Materials and methods: This double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 70 NAFLD patients confirmed by ultrasonograohy and liver enzymes level. The subjects were randomly allocated into two groups: (1) “Intervention” (n=35) received 400 mg/d vitamin E plus four 300 mg tablets of C.vulgaris, (2) “placebo” received 400 mg/d vitamin E and four placebo tablets per day for eight weeks. Weight, dietary data and fasting serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), hs-CRP , tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks. Results: Weight, ALT and ALP decreased significantly in both group after the intervention (p˂0.001). There were found significant reductions in AST and hs-CRP in the intervention group (p˂0.001). Intera-groups changes in TNF-α level was statistically significant (P˃0.05). Conclusion: C.vulgaris supplementation could improve liver function through decreasing weight , liver enzymes and hs-CRP concentrations after 8 weeks.

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Background and purpose: As aging increases throughout the world the number of menopausal women is increasing too. Their quality of life is considered important in all societies. This study aimed at assessing the efficacy of nutrition education alone or combined with aerobic exercise on quality of life in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Material and Methods: This randomized controlled trial was performed in 81 healthy married women aged 45-60 years old in Kaleibar (west north of Iran) during March- June 2013. Using block randomization the subjects were allocated into three groups (n=27 per group). Group I received nutrition education and group II received nutrition education and also performed aerobic exercises, while the control group received no intervention. Menopausal quality of life questionnaire (MENQOL) was applied at baseline, 8, and 12 weeks after the intervention. Data was analyzed using ANCOVA test Results: Quality of life significantly improved after 8 and 12 weeks in group I while this improvement was observed after 12 weeks in group II. The mean total MENQOL scores in group I was 59.5 before the intervention and 40.1 after 8 weeks [adjusted mean difference: −13.9 (95% CI: −19.3 to −8.5)] and 35.4 after 12 weeks [−22.1 (−27.3 to -17.0]. Also, in group II this score was 58.4 before the intervention, 49.2 after 8 weeks [−4 (−10.2 to 2.2)], and 49.5 after 12 weeks [−6.3 (−11.8 to -0.8)]. No side effects were reported. Conclusion: Nutrition education combined with physical exercise is more effective than the nutrition education alone in improving the quality of life in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

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Abstract Background and purpose: Interpersonal conflicts in clinical environments wastes many resources and have adverse effects on professional communication. Assertiveness skill is an important component of communication skills that helps in reducing interpersonal conflicts. This study was conducted to determine the effect of assertiveness training on nurses’ interpersonal conflicts. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 60 nurses in Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad were randomly assigned into either intervention or control groups. A two-day workshop was held for intervention group in which assertiveness skills were taught, while the control group did not receive any training. Assertiveness skills and conflicts level in both groups were measured before and 40 days after the intervention by Bar-on assertiveness questionnaire, Golparvar and Vaseghi Interpersonal conflict at work scale, and Jex and Spector's Interpersonal Conflict Scale. Results: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the two groups in nurses’ mean score for interpersonal conflicts (P=0.346) but after the intervention, this mean score decreased significantly in the group that had assertiveness training (11.6±5.9 vs.19.0±8.4, P<0.0001). Conclusion: In this study assertiveness skill training was found to have considerable effect on reducing the level of nurses’ conflicts, therefore, it is suggested to provide nurses with assertiveness training so that they could manage workplace conflicts appropriately.

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Background and purpose: Patients with Beta thalassemia major need consistent blood transfusion from early years of life. Deferasirox is used as an oral chelating agent (once daily) to excrete excess iron. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of deferasirox twice daily and the usual once daily dosing. Materials and methods: This before after clinical trial was performed in 2013-2014 in patients who were at least 2 years of age and received only deferasirox as the chelating agent. All patients had received deferasirox for at least six month once daily. The last ferritin before entering the study and the mean deferasirox daily dose during the previous six months were considered as baseline ferritin and deferasirox dose, respectively. Laboratory tests were performed including CBC-diff, serum ferritin, Creatinine (Cr), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of deferasirox. Results: A total of 21 transfusion-dependent patients (mean age: 21±6 years old) were included of whom 67% were male. The mean ferritin level decreased significantly from 1814± 922 ng/ml to 1472± 907 ng/ml (P= 0.02). There were no any significant changes in AST, ALT and Cr levels compared to baseline values. Conclusion: Twice daily dosing of deferasirox was associated with more decrease in ferritin level compared to baseline single daily dose values without any hepatic or renal adverse effects.

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Background and purpose: Adolescents with diabetes are faced with some constraints and may show some negative reactions such as aggressive behavior. These behaviors increase the level of glycosylated hemoglobin in these patients. It is important to assess some interventions that reduce aggression and improve glycosylated hemoglobin level in diabetic adolescents. This study aimed at determining the effect of implementation of the modified aggression replacement training program (ART) on glycosylated hemoglobin levels in adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes.

Materials and methods: A clinical trial was conducted in 70 adolescents suffering insulin-dependent diabetes attending Parsian Diabetes clinic in Mashhad, 2014. They were divided into two groups: a control (n= 35) and intervention (n= 35) group. The intervention program comprised five sessions of 1.5-2 hours. The sessions were held at five days intervals and each group consisted of 8-10 individuals. Glycosylated hemoglobin tests were performed before the intervention and two months later. Data was analyzed in SPSS by student t-test and Chi-square test.

Results: Before the intervention the glycosylated hemoglobin levels were not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.457). But in post-intervention phase, the glycosylated hemoglobin levels decreased significantly in intervention group (8.7±1.4) compared to the control group (9.6±1.5) (P<0.017).

Conclusion: The modified ART could be effective in reducing glycosylated hemoglobin levels in adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes. Therefore, it is recommended as part of a comprehensive treatment for diabetes.

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Background and purpose: Mothers are highly vulnerable during pregnancy and after childbirth. Some problems could even lead to mortality and morbidity after childbirth. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the effect of lifestyle educational package on prevention of postpartum’s health problems in nulliparous mothers.

Materials and methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 220 nulliparous women in postpartum ward. The subjects were allocated into two groups using block randomization method. Intervention group received face to face training, telephone counseling, booklets and informative text messages (both fathers and mothers), while the control group had no education or training. Any health problem on the day of discharge and two and six weeks after delivery were compared between the two groups using logistic regression test.

Results: By lowering the frequency of health problems during pregnancy, the chances of developing some complications including constipation, hemorrhoids, anal fissure, abdominal pain, headache, painful or infected suture, sleep problems during the second and sixth weeks postpartum as well as the chances of having cold and fever, backache, leg cramp, breast pain, nipple fissure, fatigue or weakness, sadness and discomfort and vaginal infection during the sixth weeks of postpartum decreased by more than 50% in educational group compared with the control group.

Conclusion: In this study, postpartum lifestyle intervention reduced the chance of developing many health problems. Therefore, more comprehensive interventions should be carried out by healthcare providers during pureperium period in postpartum ward and the health centers for mothers and fathers.

(Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT2013042110324N13)

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Background and purpose: Meningitis is an infectious disease which could lead to mortality in case of outbreak in society, especially in dormitories, schools and resting houses. The aim of this study was to assess the geographical distribution of meningitis in Iran by Geographic Information System.

Materials and methods: In a cross-sectional study all cases of bacterial meningitis in 30 provinces in Iran during 2013 were investigated using existing data. Initially, the national data from meningitis was collected from the disease management offices. The incidence of meningitis in each province was calculated by epidemiologic forms. Then, these data were arranged in a geo-referenced database at provincial level in the Arc-GIS software.

Results: In 2013, 8411cases with bacterial meningitis were reported in Iran. In 250 cases (3%) meningitis was confirmed, in 1823 (22%) the disease was detected as probable and 6338 cases (75%) were suspected to have meningitis. The patients were 40.7% female. Most of the infected individuals were reported from Qazvin, Mazandaran and Kurdestan provinces.

Conclusion: Based on maps, it seems that Qazvin, Mazandaran and Kurdestan provinces have either increased risk of meningitis or have a dynamic care system in which reports to the Centers for Disease Control and vaccine-preventable diseases management offices are fully made.

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Background and purpose: Nulliparous women with unplanned pregnancy experience high levels of anxiety during pregnancy. Maternal anxiety endangers the mother-infant interaction and maternal role attainment. Current study aimed at determining the effect of a maternal role training program on postpartum maternal role competence in nulliparous women with unplanned pregnancy.

Materials and methods: This clinical trial was conducted in 67 nulliparous women at 33 gestational age attending the Health centers in Mashhad, 2014-2015. They were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Data was collected using a demographic questionnaire, London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, and General Impressions on Infant Temperament Questionnaire. The intervention group undergone training programs in groups of 4-7 during 4 sessions at gestational weeks 34, 35, and 36 and before discharge, while the control group received usual care. Maternal role competence was evaluated before the intervention and four weeks after delivery.

Results: The mean scores for maternal role competence after the intervention were 39.26 ±4.598 and 35.91±5.526 in intervention group and control group, respectively, indicating a significant difference between the two groups ( P= 0.009).

Conclusion: Training the nulliparous women about maternal role during pregnancy and postpartum period could increase the maternal role competence in those with unplanned pregnancy.

(Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT2014060117948N1)

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Background and purpose: Preeclampsia is one of the three main causes of death in pregnant women in which multiple causes may be involved including lifestyle, stress, and sleep disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between pre-eclampsia and restless legs syndrome.

Materials and methods: This case-control study was conducted in 150 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and 150 pregnant women without pre-eclampsia attending health centers and state hospitals of Mashhad, Iran in 2014. The diagnosis of preeclampsia was made by a systolic blood pressure equal to, or greater than 140 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure equal to, or greater than 90 mm Hg, accompanied by urinary protein excretion more than 300 mg per 24 hours. The presence of restless legs syndrome was determined based on the diagnostic criteria updated by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group. Data was analyzed using SPSS V.16 and chi-square test, odds ratio, independent t-test, mann-whitney, chi-square, correlation coefficient and logistic regressions. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Restless legs syndrome was observed in 15.3% of the participants with preeclampsia and 7.3% of the control group indicating a significant relationship between pre-eclampsia and restless legs syndrome (P<0.001). In fact, participants with pre-eclamsia were more at risk of restless legs syndrome compared to those without it (OR =2.28, CI95%:1.07-4.88).

Conclusion: Due to an increased risk of preeclampsia in women with restless legs syndrome during pregnancy, it can be considered as a risk factor for preeclampsia.