Melatonin rhythms in stroke patients.

Very little is known regarding melatonin's circadian rhythm in stroke patients. We compared urinary-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-SMT), its major metabolite, in 11 extensive cortical and seven deep or lacunar stroke patients on day 3 or 4 and day 10 post-stroke. Urinary 6-SMT and creatinine measured every 4 h for 24 h starting at 06:00 h significantly fluctuated during the day in both types of stroke and did not differ between day 3 or 4 and day 10 post-stroke. However, in extensive cortical lesions, a delay in the 6-SMT excretion was observed in the first post-stroke days compared to day 10. We conclude that circadian oscillator is preserved in extensive cortical as well as in deep and lacunar strokes. Extensive cortical stroke might delay the melatonin surge during the first post-stroke days.