Linkage analysis of the candidate genes of familial restless legs syndrome

This research was performed to investigate the relationship between 16 candidate genes responsible for dopaminergic transmission or iron metabolism and familial restless legs syndrome. Genotyping was performed in a Han restless legs syndrome family using the technique of fluorescence-based genescan with the microsatellite markers selected in chromosomal regions flanking the candidate genes. Classical linkage analysis was conducted under the autosomal dominant genetic mode. Results showed that all of the LOD scores at recombination fraction 0.00 are smaller than -2.00, which indicated that these loci were not linked to familial restless legs syndrome. No linkage was found between the candidate genes and RLS in this family. Familial restless legs syndrome may be caused by another gene related to dopaminergic transmission and iron metabolism or there is new mechanism involved in this disease.