Alterations in circadian rhythms of melatonin and cortisol in patients with bronchial asthma

• 来源期刊: 中国药理学报（英文版）
• 关键词: melatonin asthma circadian rhythm glucocorticoids human saliva
• 年，卷（期）: 2004,（5）
• 页码范围: 651-656
• 页数: 6页
• 语种: 英文

摘要

AIM: To investigate the possible relationships between alterations in circadian rhythm of melatonin, cortisol and bronchial asthma. METHODS: Salivary melatonin and cortisol were measured simultaneously by radioimmunoassay in 10 mild intermittent or persistent patients, 11 moderate-to-severe persistent asthma patients, and 15 control subjects. Twelve salivary samples were collected in a series during a 24-h period in each subject. RESULTS: The results showed overall lower levels of salivary melatonin in asthma patients compared with control subject (P＜0.01). The amplitude, peak-level, and baseline of salivary melatonin were significantly lower in mild intermittent or persistent (P＜0.01, P＜0.05) and moderate-to-severe persistent asthma patients (P＜0.01) compared with control group. The 24-h mean level of salivary cortisol was greatly lower and the acrophase was markedly delayed in patients with mild intermittent or persistent asthma (P＜0.01) and moderate-to-severe persistent asthma (P＜0.05, P＜0.01) compared with control subject. CONCLUSION: Disordered circadian rhythms of salivary melatonin and cortisol were found in asthma patients, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.