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Melatonin and sleep-related problems in children with intractable epilepsy.

Pediatric neurology
April 1, 2010
Hamed A Elkhayat et al. (6 authors)
Clinical TrialJournal ArticleHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to assess melatonin levels in children with intractable epilepsy, its relation to sleep patterns and seizure characteristics, and the effects of melatonin therapy on these parameters.

Results Summary

Melatonin therapy significantly improved multiple sleep-related issues (e.g., sleep latency, nocturnal arousals, sleep apnea) and reduced seizure severity in children with intractable epilepsy.

Population

Children with intractable epilepsy (n=23) and children with controlled seizures (n=14).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

3 months

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (4)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
-
increase
sleep walking, forcible teeth grinding, and sleep apnea
Children with intractable epilepsy
-
had higher scores
#1
oral melatonin before bedtime
decrease
bedtime resistance, sleep duration, sleep latency, frequent nocturnal arousals, sleep walking, excessive daytime sleepiness, nocturnal enuresis, forcible teeth grinding, sleep apnea, and Epworth sleepiness scores
patients with intractable epilepsy
-
exhibited significant improvement
#2
oral melatonin before bedtime
decrease
seizure severity
patients with intractable epilepsy
-
significant reduction
#3
melatonin
decrease
both many sleep-related phenomena and the severity of seizures
patients with intractable seizures
-
improvement
#4
Abstract

Children with epilepsy have high rates of sleep problems. Melatonin has been advocated in treatment of sleep disorders, and its beneficial effect has been confirmed in insomnia. The aim of this study was to assess melatonin levels in children with intractable epilepsy and its relation to pattern of sleep and characteristics of seizure disorder, as well as the effect of melatonin therapy on those parameters. The study was conducted on 23 children with intractable epilepsy and 14 children with controlled seizures. Patients were evaluated by psychometric sleep assessment and assay of diurnal and nocturnal melatonin levels. Children with intractable epilepsy received oral melatonin before bedtime. They were reassessed after 3 months. Children with intractable epilepsy had higher scores for each category of sleep walking, forcible teeth grinding, and sleep apnea. At the end of therapeutic trial, patients with intractable epilepsy exhibited significant improvement in bedtime resistance, sleep duration, sleep latency, frequent nocturnal arousals, sleep walking, excessive daytime sleepiness, nocturnal enuresis, forcible teeth grinding, sleep apnea, and Epworth sleepiness scores. There was also significant reduction in seizure severity. Thus, use of melatonin in patients with intractable seizures was associated with improvement of both many sleep-related phenomena and the severity of seizures.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdolescentBruxismChildChild, PreschoolEpilepsyFemaleHumansHypnotics and SedativesMaleMelatoninPhotoperiodPsychometricsSeizuresSeverity of Illness IndexSleepSleep Apnea SyndromesSleep Wake DisordersSomnambulismTime FactorsTreatment Outcome
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality70/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations44
Citations/Year2.9
Relative Citation Ratio1.54
NIH Percentile66%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score1.22
Normalized Score0.68
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