NOCTURNAL MELATONIN EXCRETION IS DECREASED IN PATIENTS WITH MIGRAINE WITHOUT AURA ATTACKS ASSOCIATED WITH MENSES

Nocturnal melatonin excretion was studied throughout a complete menstr ual cycle in 10 women with migraine without aura attacks associated wi th menses and 9 women controls. Urine melatonin was determined by radi oimmunoassay. The mean nocturnal melatonin excretion throughout the cy cle was significantly lower in the migraine patients than in controls. In the control group, melatonin excretion increased significantly fro m the follicular to the luteal phase, whereas no difference was observ ed in the migraine group. Results are discussed in view of the role of the pineal gland in the organization of biological rhythms and homeos tasis in relation to environmental conditions.