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Circadian hormonal rhythms in two new cases of fatal familial insomnia
P Avoni1, P Cortelli, P Montagna
1Institute of Neurology, University of Bologna, Italy.
Acta Neurologica
|December 1, 1991
Abstract:
We used a chronobiological inferential statistical method to investigate circadian rhythms of hypophyseal hormones, cortisol, melatonin and catecholamines in two females of the same family affected by fatal familial insomnia. Case 1 (confirmed at autopsy) presented an absent or progressive loss of circadian rhythms of all hormones. In case 2 there was a loss of GH circadian rhythm and a less significant rhythm for melatonin, catecholamines and gonadotropins. These results confirm the role of the thalamus in regulating hormonal circadian rhythm.