Author/Editor		Gnidovec-Stražišar, Barbara
Title		Melatonin in ritem budnosti in spanja pri dojenčkih z navideznim ogrožajočim dogodkom
Type		monografija
Place		Ljubljana
Publisher		Univerza v Ljubljani, Medicinska fakulteta
Publication year		2007
Volume		str. 85
Language		slo
Abstract		Background. Apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) in an infant is defined as an episode that is frightening to the observer and in some cases, the observer even fears that the infant has died. After a thorough clinical evaluation, the episode can be explained in more than half of the cases. However, in up to 50 °/o of all ALTS an underlying cause cannot be found. These idiopathic ALTE infants are a risk group for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS exhibits characteristic epidemiological features, which may reflect an impaired maturation of the photoneuroendocrine system. In SIDS infants, diminished melatonin production and smaller pineal glands were found compared to that of the control group. A delayed ontogeny of melatonin production has previously been suggested also for infants with ALTE, the clinical significance of which is presently unknown. At present, it is also unclear whether delayed ontogeny of melatonin production in infants with ALTE would have any impact on their development of the circadian sleep-wake (S/W) rhythm, an important marker for early detection of disorders of the central nervous system. Objectives. To evaluate the ontogeny of melatonin secretion and circadian S/W rhythm development in infants with ALTE during the first year of life. We also wanted to determine whether there are any differences in the ontogeny regarding the clinical classification of the ALTE. In search for new clinical markers for the prediction of worse case scenarios in ALTE infants, we also aimed to develop directions for clinical evaluation of ALTE on the study basis. Patients and methods. 42 patiens that were addmited to the Department of Child, Adolescent & Developmental Neurology of the University Children's Hospital in Ljubljana after diagnosis with ALTE were included in the study. Their mean age-atevent was 8.6 weeks (SD 5.5 weeks, span from 0 to 28 weeks). (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters)
Descriptors		SLEEP APNEA SYNDROMES CIRCADIAN RHYTHM WAKEFULNESS MELATONIN CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES INFANT LIFE SUPPORT CARE