title: [The change of serum melatonin and diagnosis value in hepatic encephalopathy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the change of serum melatonin (MT) and its diagnosis value in hepatic encephalopathy (HE).
  
  
  METHODS
  The change of MT in serum in cirrhotic patients with HE and without HE was determined by ELISA, and normal serum served as control. The change of serum MT during exacerbation and remission stage of HE was also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of MT in patients with HE was higher than that without (P<0.01). Both groups were higher than normal group (312.7 +/- 77.4) ng/L, (149.8 +/- 38.4) ng/L, and (77.3 +/- 28.4)ng/L, respectively, P<0.01. The level of serum MT was higher in exacerbation stage than remission stage, (308.5 +/- 59.1) ng/L and (147.8 +/- 23.3) ng/L, respectively, P<0.01.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The elevation of MT in serum may be one of pathogenic factors for HE. Dynamic measurement of MT in serum is conducive to the diagnosis of HE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Diseases, Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wannan 241001, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin