Jan M M
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital and College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Pediatr Neurol. 2000 Sep;23(3):229-32. doi: 10.1016/s0887-8994(00)00188-0.
Sleep disorders are common in children with mental retardation and neurologic disorders. Melatonin, a recently developed natural compound, has been used successfully in sleep disorders. I report my experience with melatonin in an open, prospective trial to treat circadian rhythm sleep disorder in handicapped children. The sleep disorder had been present for at least 6 months and had not responded to at least one hypnotic drug. The therapeutic response was recorded according to the average number of hours asleep per 24 hours, average number of awakening per night, average number of nights with delayed sleep onset, and average number of nights with early morning arousals. Ten consecutive children (four males, six females; age range = 1-11 years, mean 5.4) were included. Nine children had documented mental retardation that was severe in six (67%). Most had epilepsy and visual impairment (70%). All children were monitored for 4-12 months (mean 7.5 months) after the initiation of 3-mg bedtime melatonin. Most (80%) had a dramatic response to melatonin. No side effects were reported. Melatonin is a well-tolerated, safe, relatively inexpensive, and effective drug, with minimal side effects, for the treatment of severe circadian rhythm sleep disorder in handicapped children. Wider use of this drug is recommended.
睡眠障碍在智力发育迟缓及神经疾病患儿中很常见。褪黑素是一种最近研发出的天然化合物，已成功用于治疗睡眠障碍。我报告了我在一项开放性前瞻性试验中使用褪黑素治疗残疾儿童昼夜节律性睡眠障碍的经验。该睡眠障碍已存在至少6个月，且对至少一种催眠药物无反应。根据每24小时的平均睡眠时间、每晚的平均觉醒次数、入睡延迟的平均夜数以及清晨觉醒的平均夜数记录治疗反应。纳入了连续10名儿童（4名男性，6名女性；年龄范围为1至11岁，平均5.4岁）。9名儿童有记录在案的智力发育迟缓，其中6名（67%）为重度。大多数儿童患有癫痫和视力障碍（70%）。所有儿童在开始服用3毫克睡前褪黑素后接受了4至12个月（平均7.5个月）的监测。大多数（80%）儿童对褪黑素反应显著。未报告有副作用。褪黑素是一种耐受性良好、安全、相对便宜且有效的药物，副作用极小，可用于治疗残疾儿童严重的昼夜节律性睡眠障碍。建议更广泛地使用这种药物。
