Ahmed Talaat El-Ghoneimy¹, Kamel Hammouda¹, Olfat Gamil Shaker²,

Nermeen Adel¹, Amr Hasan¹

Departments of Neurology¹, Medical Biochemistry², Cairo University; Egypt

Background: The pineal gland and melatonin have a major influence on the control of brain electrical activity and were shown to be involved in seizure and sleep mechanisms. Objective: To detect possible melatonin alteration in epileptic patients and to examine the relationship between type of epilepsy, seizure control and urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin. Methods: This study was done on 61 Subjects; 44 patients and 17 controls that were matched regarding age, sex and pubertal stages, Patients’ group was divided into 2 subgroups; one group including 26 patients with non-refractory epilepsy and another group including 18 patients with refractory epilepsy, Also patients’ group was subdivided into either patients with focal; focal with generalized epilepsy; generalized epilepsy.  All subjects were evaluated using Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children questionnaire and a self-administered rating scale for pubertal development and 12 hours urinary 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate measurement. Results: Urinary 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate level in patients was significantly lower than in the control group (20468.24±19479.38 ng/12 hours urine, 61948.38±38734.98 ng/12 hours urine p<0.005). There was no statistically significant difference between focal or focal with secondary generalization epilepsy and generalized epilepsy groups as regards urinary 6 hydroxymelatonin sulfate levels. Raw and T sleep questionnaire scores. There was no statistically significant difference between refractory and non-refractory epilepsy patients as regards urinary 6 hydroxymelatonin sulfate levels, raw and T sleep questionnaire scores. Conclusion: Urinary 6 hydroxymelatonin sulfate level was lower in epileptic patients compared to the control group. Type of epilepsy and whether it is refractory or not did not affect melatonin level. [Egypt J Neurol Psychiat Neurosurg.  2012; 49(4): 387-392]

 Key Words: Melatonin, Epilepsy