Document Detail


Light and darkness fail to regulate melatonin release in critically ill humans.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17609927     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: Pineal dysfunction has been associated with morbidity and mortality in various animal models of severe illness, and low melatonin plasma concentrations have recently been reported in patients on the ICU. However, it is not known whether the physiological response of the pineal gland to light and darkness is preserved in critical illness. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: We examined the nocturnal release of melatonin in response to 1 h of darkness followed by 1 h of bright light (>10,000 lux) in 20 severely ill patients on a medical ICU. Eleven elderly (median age 73 years) and 9 young patients (38 years) were recruited. Melatonin plasma concentrations were measured at 30-min intervals. RESULTS: In 15 patients melatonin plasma concentration was low and responded to neither darkness nor light. In three elderly and two young patients melatonin plasma concentrations were elevated irrespective of illumination. CONCLUSIONS: The physiological regulation of melatonin secretion by darkness and light is abolished in severely ill patients.
Authors:
Boris Perras; Markus Meier; Christoph Dodt
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2007-07-04
Journal Detail:
Title:  Intensive care medicine     Volume:  33     ISSN:  0342-4642     ISO Abbreviation:  Intensive Care Med     Publication Date:  2007 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-10-24     Completed Date:  2008-03-25     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7704851     Medline TA:  Intensive Care Med     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1954-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany. Perras@kfg.mu-luebeck.de
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Critical Illness*
Darkness*
Female
Germany
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Light*
Male
Melatonin / analysis,  blood,  secretion*
Middle Aged
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
73-31-4/Melatonin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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