MELATONIN - A POSSIBLE ROLE IN PATHOGENESIS OF ADOLESCENT IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS

Study Design. The serum melatonin levels during 24-hour periods were c ompared between patients with idiopathic and age-matched normal contro l subjects. Objective. To find if the melatonin deficiency may have so me role for progression or etiology of idiopathic scoliosis in humans. Summary of Background Data. Experimentally induced scoliosis in chick en by pinealectomy can be attributed to the defect in melatonin metabo lism. Method. Blood samples were correlated every 3 hours during 24-ho ur periods, and serum melatonin levels were measured and statistically analyzed. Results. The level of melatonin, integrated concentration t hrough 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 prev ious 12 months) was significantly lower than the level in the patients who had a stable curve (less than 10 degrees of progression in the pr evious 12 months) or in the control subjects (P < 0.05). Conclusion. T he study suggests that normal melatonin synthesis or metabolism may ha ve crucial role in regulating normal spine growth. The level of melato nin appears to be a useful predictor for progression of spine curvatur e in idiopathic scoliosis.