1997 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
PATHOGENESIS OF IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS
| Project/Area Number |
07457342
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Orthopaedic surgery
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| Research Institution | NIHON UNIVERSITY |
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Principal Investigator |
MACHIDA Masafumi Dept.of Orthop., Nihon Univ., Assist.Prof, 医学部, 講師 (30150717)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
IMAMURA Yasuhide Dept.of Orthop., Nihon Univ., Assist.Prof, 医学部, 講師 (30246871)
OKUMURA Eijiro Dept.of Orthop., Nihon Univ., Assist.Prof, 医学部, 講師
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| Project Period (FY) |
1995 – 1997
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| Keywords | idiopathic scoliosis / pathogenesis / melatonin |
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| Research Abstract |
This study was undertaken to examine to possibilities that a defect of melatonin may exist in human idiopathic scoliosis. We measured melatonin levels during 24-hour period in 45 adolescents 10 to 17 years old, 30 patients with idiopathic scoliosis and 15 age matched normal controls. All idiopathic scoliosis ranged 25 to 75 degrees were operated and classified as stable or progressive prior to surgery. If a curve had progressed less than 10 degrees of progression in the preceding year, it was classified as stabel. If a curve had progressed more than 10 degrees in the preceding year, it was considered to be progressive. Blood samples were centrifuged and the plasma was kept frozen until analyzed. The levels of melatonin was measured with use of a radioimmunoassay. In all subjects the melatonin levels showed diurnal variations with low in the day and high at night. We found a highly significant decrease in the melatonin levels in patients with progressive scoliosis through the night when compared to the stable or control subjects. Melatonin levels were 1/3 or 35% less in the progressive scoliosis when compared to the stable scoliosis patients ; the levels in the stable group and the control were similar. Melatonin levels also appeared to be possible predictor of spine curve progression, i.e., the lower melatonin levels associated with the greater prognosis of curvature. However, there was no correlation between degree of curvature of the spine and the melatonin level. Our study suggests that normal melatonin synthesis or metabolism may be important for the symmetric development of the proprioceptive system and paraspinal muscles. Also the level of melatonin appears to be a useful prediction of progression of spine curvature in idiopathic scoliosis.
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