Abstract

Introduction

Materials & Methods

Results

Discussion & Conclusion

References

Discussion
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Aims: Decreased night-time plasma levels of melatonin were recently reported in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and it was postulated that melatonin production may be impaired, due to a lack of synthesising enzymes. However, since artefacts possibly influencing the release pattern were not taken into account, this interpretation was strongly criticised. We therefore carefully reinvestigated night-time melatonin production in patients with CAD using an appropriate experimental approach. Furthermore, we examined the effect of b-blockers, a frequently used drug in CAD therapy. Methods and Results: Fourty-eight male patients with angiographically documented severe CAD, 24 of them taking b-blockers daily in therapeutical dosages, were included. Eighteen age-matched men, who did not show atherosclerotic changes in coronary angiography, served as controls. For determination of melatonin production, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) was measured radioimmunologically in the overnight urine. Urinary aMT6s concentration was highly significantly decreased in patients, and b-blocker treatment did not further suppress melatonin production. Conclusions: The data obtained using this investigative approach provide clearcut evidence that melatonin production in patients with CAD is decreased. Whether a decreased melatonin level may be a predisposing factor to CAD, or whether the occurrence of CAD decreases melatonin synthesis remains to be determined.

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Poster Number PAsakotnik0670
Keywords: melatonin, CAD, atherosclerosis