Torsade de pointes after astemizole overdose.

from that among normal controls and patients with osteoarthritis. Immobility per se does not seem to be a primary factor as the patients with osteoarthritis did not show an increased prevalence compared with the control group. Certain medical conditions, including pure iron deficiency, uraemia, pregnancy, gastrectomy, and carcinoma, are associated with the syndrome, providing potential clues about its mechanism.3 Interestingly, these conditions lead to either pure iron deficiency or anaemia of chronic disease, and anaemic patients experience more severe symptoms.4 As patients with rheumatoid arthritis characteristically develop the anaeniia of chronic disease the increased prevalence of the syndrome observed in the group with rheumatoid arthritis may relate to this secondary complication.5 The combination of the restless leg syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis contributes considerably to discomfort and anxiety, and in our experience few doctors are aware of this condition.