deCODE Complete
Analyzes risk factors for more than fifty common diseases and several traits, including all of those for which deCODEhealth offers individual disease tests. deCODE Complete focuses on medical conditions that can either be better prevented through altered lifestyle or that have better treatment outcomes if detected early. It is the most comprehensive genetic scan available for evaluating risk of common diseases. It is not generally reimbursable.
Diseases and conditions covered by the deCODE Complete Scan:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, ABO Blood Types, Age Related Macular Degeneration, Alcohol Flush Reaction, Alzheimer’s Disease, Asthma, Atrial Fibrillation, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Bitter Taste Perception, Bladder Cancer, Brain Aneurysm, Brain Cancer-Glioma, Breast Cancer, Celiac Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Clopidogrel Response, Colorectal Cancer, Crohn’s Disease, Essential Tremor, Exfoliation Glaucoma, Eye Color, Gallstones, Gout, Heart Attack, Hemochromatosis, Hypertension, Kidney Stones, Lactose Intolerance, Lung Cancer, Male Pattern Baldness, Multiple Sclerosis, Nicotine Dependence, Obesity, Ovarian Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Prostate Cancer, Psoriasis, Restless Legs Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Statin Induced Myopathy, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Testicular Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Ulcerative Colitis, Venous Thromboembolism, Warfarin Metabolism.
Restless Legs Syndrome
Researchers believe that Restless Legs Syndrome is commonly unrecognized or misdiagnosed
Approximately 50% of patients with RLS have a family history of the condition, suggesting that genetics is a major risk factor.
Caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco may aggravate or trigger symptoms in predisposed individuals.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder. It is characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable urge to move the legs in an effort to relieve these feelings.
RLS symptoms can interrupt sleep
The symptoms are worse during rest or inactivity. Sleep is often interrupted by involuntary periodic limb movements (PLM), which are generally considered to be a hallmark of RLS.
Researchers believe that RLS is commonly unrecognized or misdiagnosed as insomnia or another neurological, muscular, or orthopedic condition. Despite a high number of people affected by RLS in North America and Europe (5% to 15%), the cause is still not clear. Over-indulgent healthcare systems in affluent parts of the world may be more likely to diagnose RLS, and thereby could account for differences in the number of cases reported.
Genetics play a significant role in RLS
Hereditary factors contribute significantly to the etiology of RLS. Several genetic variants have been found that increase the risk of developing RLS, including variants in or near the BTBD9 gene on chromosome 6, in the Meis1 gene on chromosome 2, the MAP2K5/LBXCOR1 gene on chromosome 15 and the PTPRD gene on chromosome 9.
deCODEhealth calculates your patients’ genetic risk for RLS
The deCODE Complete Scan identifies validated RLS risk variants and uses them to provide a personalized interpretation of the associated genetic risk for RLS. The number of variants included in the deCODE Complete Scan for each ethnic group are listed in the table below.
| Number of Variants Measured | |
|---|---|
| European ancestry | 4 |
At present, the necessary scientific information to interpret the genetic risk for individuals of other ethnicities is not available. This information will be added as soon as it becomes available and we are assured of its quality.
The prevalence of RLS is lower in Asia than in North America and Europe and risk variants are also found in lower frequencies in Asian than populations of European descent. The lower reported prevalence of RLS in Asia is though most likely a reflection of ethnic differences in frequencies of these risk variants.
Risk factors
- Age: Although the symptoms of RLS may begin at any age, the syndrome is more common with increasing age.
- Genetics: Approximately 50% of patients with RLS have a family history of the condition, suggesting that genetics is a major risk factor. People with familial RLS tend to be younger when symptoms start and have a slower progression of the condition.
Prevention and treatment
Although family history is evident in about 50% of RLS cases, other cases appear to be related to the factors or conditions listed below. Researchers do not yet know if these factors actually cause RLS, although reversing these conditions may improve the symptoms of RLS.
- Low iron levels or anemia may increase the likelihood of developing RLS. Once iron levels are corrected, patients may experience a reduction in signs and symptoms.
- Chronic diseases such as kidney failure, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and peripheral neuropathy are associated with RLS. Treating the underlying condition often provides relief from RLS symptoms.
- Pregnancy: some pregnant women experience RLS, especially in their last trimester. For most of these women, symptoms usually disappear within 4 weeks after delivery.
- Certain medications, such as antinausea drugs, antiseizure drugs, antipsychotic drugs, and some cold and allergy medications, may aggravate the disease.
- Researchers have also found that caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco may aggravate or trigger symptoms in patients who are predisposed to develop RLS. Some studies have shown that a reduction or complete elimination of such substances may relieve symptoms, although it remains unclear whether elimination of these substances can prevent RLS symptoms from occurring.
Individuals with higher than average risk for RLS and who are experiencing sleep disturbances may benefit from seeking advice from their doctor. Medications such as dopamine agonists may not always be recommended for RLS, particularly if the symptoms are mild. However, important lifestyle changes and activities such as regular sleep habits, relaxation techniques, and moderate exercise during the day, can, in some cases, help reduce symptoms.
More information
You can find out more information about RLS by talking with your doctor and visiting these Web sites:
- MedlinePlus Article on Restless Legs Syndrome
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- National Sleep Foundation
- The Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation
- WeMove – Worldwide Education and Awareness for Movement Disorders
This content was last reviewed on February 20, 2012.