Prevalence of restless legs syndrome in Japanese patients with chronic liver disease

A cross-sectional study on restless legs syndrome (RLS) in polycythemia vera (PV): is iron deficiency the only culprit?

INTRODUCTION

In polycythemia vera (PV) patients undergoing phlebotomy, iron deficiency (ID) may develop. ID has been linked to restless legs syndrome (RLS), and in one study, 29.6% of PV patients had RLS. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of RLS in PV and to evaluate factors that might play a role in RLS development among PV and essential thrombocythemia (ET) patients.

METHODS

We consecutively included PV cases as the patient group, and ET and ID patients and healthy subjects (HSs) were included as controls. Those with conditions that could lead to RLS were excluded. All subjects were questioned according to the diagnostic criteria of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven PV, 23 ET, and 22 ID patients and 23 HSs were included. RLS was detected in 25.9%, 34.8%, and 45.5% of PV, ET, and ID patients, respectively. None of the HSs had RLS. In univariate analysis, interferon-α and anagrelide use, magnesium levels, and the Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs (LANSS) scores had a significant impact on RLS in PV and ET patients (p = 0.014, p = 0.032, p = 0.036, and p = 0.003, respectively).

CONCLUSION

RLS was more common among PV and ET patients than HSs, which was irrespective to the iron status. RLS was more frequent in ET patients than that observed in PV cases, indicating that ID may not be the only causative factor for RLS development in PV. Further prospective studies are needed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of RLS developing in PV and ET.

Genetic hemochromatosis is not a risk factor for Restless Legs Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Iron dysmetabolism has long been identified as a primary key factor involved in Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) pathophysiology and may account for the high prevalence of RLS observed in chronic liver diseases (CLD). Prevalence of RLS was also reported to be high in genetic hemochromatosis (GH) but whether this is due to the unique iron metabolism disorder and to treatment procedure in GH remains unknown. If this assumption is true, then one would hypothesize that RLS prevalence is higher in GH than in another CLD such as chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a prospective questionnaire-based survey to assess the prevalence of RLS symptoms in consecutive patients with either GH or CHB. Patients who were screened positive for RLS based on the criteria of the International RLS Study Group were further interviewed by telephone and if needed by face to face assessment to confirm RLS diagnosis.

RESULTS

Symptoms of confirmed RLS were confirmed in 8.9% of the 101 participants with CHB and in 10% of the 105 patients with GH. Low ferritin levels were not associated with the presence of RLS in both groups nor were the severity of the liver disease.

CONCLUSION

GH is not a risk factor for RLS occurrence as any other cause of CLD, as RLS prevalence in both GH and CHB is within the range of RLS prevalence in the general Caucasian population.

Lack of direct association between viral hepatitis and sleep disturbances

Background

Individuals with chronic viral hepatitis are at increased risk of experiencing poor sleep quality and sleep disturbances. However, it remains unclear whether the sleep disorders associated with viral hepatitis are secondary to the comorbidities related to viral hepatitis or the direct effect of hepatitis viruses on sleep. This study investigated the direct impact of viral hepatitis B and C on sleep quality.

Methods

Individuals with viral hepatitis B or C and their healthy counterparts were recruited for the present study, and they were evaluated with the Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale-2, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in the absence of common comorbidities associated with viral hepatitis.

Results

Neither hepatitis B nor hepatitis C was found to cause significant differences in insomnia symptoms or excessive daytime sleepiness. However, individuals with hepatitis C, but not hepatitis B, tended to be less likely to experience restlessness of the legs or arms at night.

Conclusions

This study suggests that hepatitis viruses B and C may not cause a significant impact on sleep quality and related disorders directly. Sleep disturbances in individuals with chronic viral hepatitis may instead be attributable to hepatic decompensation or the comorbid factors associated with viral hepatitis.

The Prevalence and Predictors of Restless Legs Syndrome in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Introduction and aim. Sleep disorders are highly prevalent in patients with liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS), as well as its risk factors and possible predictors, in a cohort of patients with liver cirrhosis. Material and methods. We performed a cross-sectional prospective study over a period of 14 months and enrolled 69 patients with liver cirrhosis, after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The cases of RLS were assessed according to the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) criteria and severity scale. Results. Out of the total number of patients, 55% fulfilled the criteria for RLS. Age, diabetes, severity of cirrhosis, serum creatinine, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and mean hemoglobin were associated with the presence of RLS. Moreover, there was a significantly higher prevalence of RLS among patients with decompensated cirrhosis. From all the risk factors introduced into the multivariate analysis, only the GFR could predict the presence of RLS. Conclusions. This research shows that patients with liver cirrhosis have a high risk of RLS. Even though there are multiple risk factors associated with RLS, only the GFR could predict its occurrence in our cohort.

Restless legs syndrome among subjects having chronic liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sleep disturbances are commonly reported in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Changes in quality of sleep in patients with CLD could be related to multiple factors viz., elevated levels of tryptophan, histamine, and increased turnover of dopamine in caudate-putamen and cingulate cortex. Also, iron metabolism disturbances are reported in patients with CLD. These changes may result in restless legs syndrome (RLS) that worsens sleep-quality. There have been reports suggesting an increased prevalence of RLS among patients with CLD. Literature was searched in PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. A total of twenty-two relevant articles were found. Out of these, nine studies have assessed the prevalence of RLS among patients with chronic liver disease or cirrhosis in the clinical population. Population prevalence reported from various studies was used to calculate odds ratio. Having included studies using various methods for diagnosis (clinical as well as questionnaires) pooled odds-ratio for the RLS was 8.62. It remains unaffected by study-method, gender, age, and geographical-area. However, studies using clinical diagnosis for RLS had lower odds compared to questionnaire based diagnosis. Studies varied with regards to diagnostic methods, age, gender, etiology, and severity of liver dysfunction. The severity and etiology of CLD and biochemical correlate of CLD were not found to be associated with RLS. Possible pathophysiological mechanisms are discussed for the occurrence of RLS in this population. In conclusion, the prevalence of RLS is higher among patients with CLD, however, the correlates are unknown.

Comprehensive Overview of Sleep Disorders in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

The impact of sleep disorders (SDs) on patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD) is tremendous. SDs are frequently encountered among these patients and interfere with their quality of life. This review aims to present the data available so far about the prevalence, phenotypes, and proposed pathophysiological mechanisms of SDs in CLD. Moreover, we proposed to search the literature regarding the most reliable methods to assess SDs and the possible therapeutic options in patients with CLD. The main results of this review show that when it comes to prevalence, the percentages reported vary widely between studies performed among populations from the USA or Europe and those coming from Asian countries. Furthermore, it has been proven that SDs may also be present in the absence of neurocognitive disorders attributable to hepatic encephalopathy (HE), which contradicts traditional suppositions where SDs were considered part of the clinical scenario of HE. Currently, there are no specific recommendations or protocols to assess SDs in CLD patients and data about the therapeutic management are limited. Taking into consideration their impact, a protocol for diagnosing and managing SDs should be developed and included in the daily practice of hepatologists.

Restless Leg Syndrome in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis! Its Frequency, Severity, and Correlation

BACKGROUND

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) has been recognized as a typical additional manifestation among patients with cirrhosis of the liver. RLS prevalence in liver cirrhosis further worsens the quality of life, which has already been compromised with the disease-related complications of cirrhosis itself.

AIMS

The study aimed to determine the frequency and severity of Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) among patients with cirrhosis of the liver and to correlate its severity with the severity of cirrhosis.

METHODS

This prospective cross-sectional study was carried out at Ruth K.M. Pfau Civil Hospital (Karachi, Pakistan) from December 2019 to February 2020. Three hundred and fifteen cirrhotic patients with any etiology were included in the study after informed written consent. Restless leg syndrome with its severity was determined in all cirrhotic patients. For continuous variables, means and medians with standard deviations were calculated, while percentages and proportions were used for discrete variables. Spearman correlation was used to find significance between RLS Severity Score (RSS) and Model of End-stage Liver Disease MELD Score. A p value of < 0.05 was considered significant for all analyses.

RESULTS

The frequency of RLS among cirrhotic patients was 38.4%. More than half (54.5%) of the patients had severe RLS. Viral related hepatitis C and hepatitis B were the most common cause of cirrhosis of the liver (57.8% and 30.8%). A significant difference was found between as patients both with or without RLS in terms of age (p=0.003), gender (p=0.005), hemoglobin (p=0.00), and serum albumin (p=0.01). No significant association was found between RLS severity score and MELD Score (p=0.693).

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of RLS is very high among cirrhotic patients, but no correlation was found between the severity of RLS and cirrhosis. Further studies should be carried out to assess the quality of life in cirrhotic patients having RLS.

Sudomotor Changes in Hepatitis C Virus Infection with or without Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Study in Egyptian Patients

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can affect the neurological system, and neuropathy is one of these manifestations. Hepatitis C virus infection is associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) type II, and diabetic patients are at higher risk of acquiring HCV infection. Sweat function has been proposed to assess early autonomic neuropathy. This study aimed to evaluate small fiber neuropathy in asymptomatic HCV-related cirrhotic patients with or without DM through sweat function assessment by Sudoscan test. Three groups were involved: 47 healthy controls, 48 HCV-related cirrhotic patients without DM (group 1), and 49 HCV-related cirrhotic patients with DM type II (group 2). All participants were subjected to liver panel tests, renal function tests, cell blood counts, HbA1c, and abdominal ultrasound. Sweat function was assessed in all patients and controls by measuring hand and feet electrochemical skin conductance (ESC, microSiemens [µS]) using Sudoscan. Peripheral neuropathy was detected in none of the controls, 39% of group 1 patients, and 62% of group 2 patients (P < 0.0001). The mean feet ESC (FESC) was 88.3 ± 6.8 µS in controls, 67.2 ± 19.2 µS in group 1, and 57.9 ± 19.4 µS in group 2 (P < 0.0001). A significant correlation was observed between FESC and bilirubin, albumin, creatinine, international normalized ratio, transaminases, and splenic size. Electrochemical skin conductance measurement is a valuable, noninvasive method for early detection of small fiber neuropathy in asymptomatic HCV-related cirrhosis, with or without DM.

Direct-acting Antivirals Improved the Quality of Life, Ameliorated Disease-related Symptoms, and Augmented Muscle Volume Three Years Later in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus

Objective Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are important measures of the quality of life (QOL) and symptoms in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). We evaluated the PROs at the beginning of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment and three years later. A low QOL in patients with chronic liver disease suggested a low muscle mass. We compared the relationship between the QOL and muscle mass. Methods DAAs were administered to 100 patients with HCV infection. The PROs included the cirrhosis-related symptom score (CSS), presence of restless legs syndrome, Pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI) to evaluate sleep disturbance, SF-36 to measure the QOL, and calculated body muscle mass (CBMM) measured at the beginning of treatment and three years later. Computed tomography (CT) was used to screen 82 patients for hepatocellular carcinoma at the beginning of treatment and three years later. Cross-sectional CT images of the third lumbar vertebrae were analyzed to evaluate the body composition. Results The general health perception (GHN) of SF-36 was better at three years after DAA administration than at the beginning. Changes in the GHN (dGHN) were related to an improved sleep quality on the PSQI and CSS and increased CBMM. The dGHN was positively related to changes in the skeletal muscle. The sleep quality, sleep latency, fatigue, and abdominal fullness were related to dGHN. Conclusion The QOL is related to sleep disturbance and several other symptoms. Furthermore, in patients with an increased muscle volume after DAA treatment, increased muscle mass is associated with an improvement in the QOL.

Management of restless legs syndrome in chronic liver disease: A challenge for the correct diagnosis and therapy

AIM

To investigate the association between restless legs syndrome (RLS) and well-defined chronic liver disease, and the possible therapeutic options.

METHODS

Two hundred and eleven patients with chronic liver disease, complaining of sleep disturbances, painful leg sensation and daily sleepiness, were included. Patients with persistent alcohol intake, recent worsening of clinical conditions, or hepatitis C virus were excluded. Diagnosis of RLS was suggested by the Johns Hopkins questionnaire and verified by fulfilling the diagnostic criteria by Allen. All patients were tested, both at baseline and during follow-up, with the Hamilton rating scale for depression, sleep quality assessment (PSQI), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group evaluation, and international RLS severity (IRLS) scoring system. Iron-free level, ferritin, folate, vitamin B12 and D-OH25 were detected. Neurological examinations and blood test occurred at the beginning of the therapy, after 2 wk, and at the 28^th, 75^th, 105^th, 135^th, 165^th and 205^th day. Regarding therapy, pramipexole or gabapentin were used.

RESULTS

Patients were moderately depressed, with evident nocturnal sleep problems and concomitant daily sleepiness. Sleep problems and involuntary leg movements had been underestimated, and RLS syndrome had not been considered before the neurological visit. All (211/211) patients fulfilled the RLS diagnostic criteria. Twenty-two patients considered their symptoms as mild, according to IRSL, but 189 found them moderate to very severe. No correlation was found between ammonium level and ESS or PSQI. Augmentation was rather precocious in our patients (135^th day), and more frequent (35%) than previous data (8.3%-9.1%). The dosage of dopamine agonists was found to be associated with augmentation and appears in range with the literature. Previous intake of alcohol and lower levels of vitamins have been related to the phenomenon in our study.

CONCLUSION

RLS is a common disorder, requiring rapid diagnosis and treatment. Further research is therefore fundamental.

Hepatitis C virus-related symptoms, but not quality of life, were improved by treatment with direct-acting antivirals

AIM

Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have a significantly high sustained virologic response rate after a short treatment course and do not have any severe adverse effects. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have become increasingly important to assess the total impact of a chronic disease. We aimed to evaluate the changes in symptoms of patients with HCV infection treated with DAAs by using PROs.

METHODS

A total of 107 patients with chronic HCV infection were treated with DAAs. Daclatasvir/asunaprevir or sofosbuvir/ledipasvir was used for HCV 1B infection, and sofosbuvir/ribavirin for HCV 2A/2B infection. The PROs measured at the start of treatment and 1 year after the start of treatment were cirrhosis-related symptom score (CSS), presence of restless legs syndrome (RLS), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), Pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI), Kessler 6 score (K-6), and the SF-36 to measure quality of life (QOL). All patients had a sustained virologic response rate of 24.

RESULTS

The CSS, PSQI, K-6, and RLS scores were improved 1 year after beginning treatment. However, QOL had not recovered. Changes in total CSS were correlated with HCV genotype, sex, hypertensive drug use, serum low-density lipoprotein, and ESS at the start of treatment and RLS 1 year after the start of treatment. The factors that contributed to worsening of CSS were HCV genotype 2B and RLS 1 year after the start of treatment.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with DAAs eliminated HCV-RNA and improved most symptoms, but QOL did not recover.

Prevalence of Restless Legs Syndrome in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND AND AIM

There has been increased interest in sleep disorders in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Studies in North America and Europe reported that the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) is much higher in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) than in the general population. The aim of this study was to reveal the prevalence and clinical features of RLS in Japanese patients with IBD and investigate the influence of RLS on sleep quality and quality of life (QOL).

METHODS

The study included 80 outpatients with IBD who visited Nagasaki University Hospital between December 2012 and July 2014. All patients completed the international RLS study group rating scale, a validated measure of the presence of RLS. Sleep quality was assessed using the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and health-related QOL was assessed using the Japanese version of the 36-item short form healthy profile (SF-36) version 2.

RESULTS

The prevalence of RLS in patients with IBD was 20%, including rates of 21.7% in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 17.6% in patients with CD. Among patients with CD, the proportion of women and serum level of CRP were higher in the RLS group than in the non-RLS group. Among those with UC, there were no differences in clinical characteristics between the RLS and non-RLS groups. Patients in the RLS group slept significantly less well than those in the non-RLS group (PSQI > 5; 62.5 vs. 34.4%, P < 0.05). No significant relationships were observed between QOL indices and the presence of RLS (SF-36 physical score, 46.8 vs. 50.1; mental score, 43.8 vs. 45.7; role/social score, 48.1 vs. 49.2).

CONCLUSIONS

RLS occurs frequently in Japanese patients with UC as well as CD. RLS affects sleep quality but not QOL, and it should be considered one of the causes of sleep disturbance in patients with IBD.

Screening for minimal hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis by cirrhosis-related symptoms and a history of overt hepatic encephalopathy

The diagnosis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is more difficult in comparison to the diagnosis of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE), as patients with MHE do not exhibit overt neurological deficits and must be diagnosed using specialized equipment. However, identifying MHE is critical for patients with cirrhosis, and a simple screening test is required. The present study aimed to evaluate the associations between MHE, clinical characteristics and questionnaire items regarding sleep disturbances and cirrhosis-related symptom score (CSS). A total of 91 patients who had cirrhosis without OHE were evaluated using various questionnaires [i.e., CSS, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Japanese 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36)]. MHE was diagnosed using the neuropsychological test. MHE was associated with severe liver damage, which was indicated by liver damage markers and a history of OHE. In addition, MHE was associated with the CSS, PSQI and SF-36 results. The multivariate analyses revealed that a history of OHE was the factor that was the most strongly associated with MHE. Among patients without a history of OHE, MHE was most strongly associated with CSS, although it was also associated with severe liver damage and platelet counts. A prediction score (calculated using a history of OHE and CSS) provided an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.738 and a sensitivity of 0.671 for identifying MHE. In conclusion, a history of OHE and CSS may be useful for identifying MHE in patients with cirrhosis.

Prevalence, severity, and impact on quality of life of restless leg syndrome in patients with liver cirrhosis in India

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) has recently been shown to be increased in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). We prospectively studied the prevalence and severity of RLS, and the effect of its presence on the quality of life (QoL) in Indian patients with LC.

METHODS

Adult patients with stable LC (n = 121; 98 male; median age 47 [range 18-68] years; Child-Pugh class A/B/C 59/39/23), were prospectively enrolled along with a group of healthy, adult controls (n = 121; 84 male; median age 42 [19-70] years). Patients with recent (<4 weeks) worsening were excluded. The subjects underwent an initial screening for RLS, followed by a re-evaluation to confirm the diagnosis, using the International RLS Diagnostic Criteria, and assessment of its severity. All participants underwent QoL assessment.

RESULTS

RLS was commoner in LC patients (8/121; 6.6 %) than in controls (1/121; p < 0.05; odds ratio = 8.5 [1.1-69.0]). Presence of RLS showed no association with specific gender (male 7/98, female 1/23), Child-Pugh class (A 5/59, B 1/39 and C 2/23) or cause of liver disease (alcohol 3/32, hepatitis B 1/18, hepatitis C 3/28, and cryptogenic 1/25). RLS severity was moderate (5), severe (2), or very severe (1). Though QoL scores were lower in patients with LC than in controls, those in patients with and without RLS were similar.

CONCLUSION

RLS was commoner in patients with LC than in controls, but did not correlate with liver disease severity and did not adversely influence QoL in LC.

Frequency of Restless Legs Syndrome in adults with epilepsy in Turkey

BACKGROUND

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a common disorder characterized by an irresistible urge to move the legs particularly during rest in the evenings often leading to insomnia and daytime impairment. No prior studies estimate the prevalence of RLS in a diverse sample of adults with epilepsy using standard diagnostic criteria.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A total of 225 patients with epilepsy (61.8% female; mean age 33.3 ± 12.3 years) seen in the epilepsy clinic of Çukurova University Neurology Department were included. Restless Legs Syndrome diagnosis was based on structured interviews using internationally accepted criteria. Demographic and epilepsy-related variables were obtained through medical record review.

RESULTS

The prevalence of RLS was 5.8% (n=13). Mean score on the International RLS Study Group rating scale for these subjects was 9.3 ± 3.6 (6-18). Ten (76.9%) patients with RLS scored in the mild range and the remainder in the moderate range of severity. Patients with RLS were not significantly different from others in terms of demographics, epilepsy classification or duration, treatment regimen (polytherapy vs. monotherapy), patient-reported sleep assessment, or relevant laboratory data.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of RLS in adults with epilepsy was similar to that observed in the adult general Turkish population (3.18-5.2%), although we excluded subjects with conditions associated with RLS, rendering ours a conservative estimate. While preliminary, these findings support the need for future studies exploring RLS in epilepsy given the potential impact of untreated sleep disorders and sleep deprivation on seizures and quality of life in people with epilepsy.

Relationship between quality of life and restless legs syndrome among a community-dwelling population in Japan

OBJECTIVES

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor disturbance that causes the production of impulses and dysesthesia and makes the patients feel as though they must move their lower extremities. Because the symptoms of RLS in the lower limbs tend to develop at night, RLS could cause sleep disorders. We investigated an association between the symptoms of RLS and the health-related quality of life among community-dwelling individuals in Japan.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional survey, we enrolled 985 volunteers who participated in the Iwaki Health Promotion Project in 2013. The symptoms of RLS were evaluated by the criteria of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group. The assessments included an interview to obtain sociodemographic data, the second version of the Short Form Health Survey, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. A multiple regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the symptoms of RLS and subscores of the Short Form Health Survey, Version 2.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of RLS in our participants was 1.0%. We found a significant and negative association between symptoms of RLS and physical functioning, role - physical functioning, bodily pain, social functioning, and the physical composite summary score.

CONCLUSION

After adjusting for confounders such as age, sex, and comorbidity, the burden of RLS appears to be mainly a physical problem. Impaired health-related quality of life among community individuals with RLS emphasizes the importance of screening for these symptoms and evaluating the need for treatment.

Sleep disturbances and quality of life in patients after living donor liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

Following improvements in patient and graft survival after liver transplantation (LT), the recipients' quality of life has become an important focus of patient care. Sleep is closely related to physical and mental health; however, sleep disturbances in LT patients have not yet been evaluated.

METHODS

We assessed 59 LT patients (aged ≥18 years) between September 2011 and September 2012. The patients completed the restless legs syndrome (RLS), 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaires. In addition, laboratory data were obtained and neuropsychological tests (NPT) were performed during study entry.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight patients (64%) were included in the poor sleep group (PSQI ≥6 or ESS ≥10). The SF-36 scores were lower in the poor sleep group than in the good sleep group. Eleven patients (18%) had RLS. An NPT score ≥3 indicated minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE3). The MHE3 group consisted of 22 patients (43%). The time after LT was shorter; serum albumin, branched chain amino acid/tyrosine molar ratio (BTR), and role limitations due to poor physical health were lower; and serum ammonia levels were higher in the MHE3 group than in the MHE0-2 group. When the poor sleep group was divided into subgroups (control, MHE, RLS, and unknown), MHE patients had high model for end-stage liver disease scores, high ammonia levels, and low BTR, whereas RLS patients showed a short time after LT.

CONCLUSION

Sixty-four percent of recipients were classified as poor sleepers. SF-36 scores were lower for poor sleepers than good sleepers. RLS and MHE are major diseases that cause sleep disturbances in patients after LT.