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Melatonin. A possible role in pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
M Machida1, J Dubousset, Y Imamura
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Study Design:
The serum melatonin levels during 24-hour periods were compared between patients with idiopathic and age-matched normal control subjects.
Objective:
To find if the melatonin deficiency may have some role for progression or etiology of idiopathic scoliosis in humans.
Summary Of Background Data:
Experimentally induced scoliosis in chicken by pinealectomy can be attributed to the defect in melatonin metabolism.
Method:
Blood samples were correlated every 3 hours during 24-hour periods, and serum melatonin levels were measured and statistically analyzed.
Results:
The level of melatonin, integrated concentration through 24 hours and night time (0:00 am-6:00 am), in the patients who had progressive curve (more than 10 degrees of progression in the previous 12 months) was significantly lower than the level in the patients who had a stable curve (less than 10 degrees of progression in the previous 12 months) or in the control subjects (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
The study suggests that normal melatonin synthesis or metabolism may have crucial role in regulating normal spine growth. The level of melatonin appears to be a useful predictor for progression of spine curvature in idiopathic scoliosis.