Dopaminergic neurotransmission and restless legs syndrome: A genetic association analysis

In order to examine the genetic substrate of the dopamine hypothesis in res tless legs syndrome, we analyzed eight genes coding for receptors and enzym es related to dopaminergic transmission, using a population of 92 patients with restless legs syndrome and 182 controls matched for ethnic background. No significant differences were found in the genotypic or allelic distribu tions between groups. Furthermore, no effect of the loci examined was obser ved with stratification using clinical parameters such as age at onset or p eriodic leg movements during sleep index.