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.