Non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome following a car accident.
The authors report the case of a 39-year-old sighted woman who displayed non-24-hour sleep-wake cycles following a car accident. The phase relationship between endogenous circadian markers such as plasma melatonin and 6-sulfatoxymelatonin rhythms and self-selected sleep times was abnormal. A laboratory investigation indicated that she was sensitive to bright light as a circadian synchronizer. MRI and brain CT scans were normal, but microscopic brain damage in the vicinity of the suprachiasmatic nucleus or its output pathways is plausible.
Boivin
D B
DB
Center for Study and Treatment of Circadian Rhythms, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Verdun, Quebec, Canada. boidia@douglas.mcgill.ca
James
F O
FO
Santo
J B
JB
Caliyurt
O
O
Chalk
C
C
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D012890:Sleep; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D013577:Syndrome; D014851:Wakefulness
C054513:6-sulfatoxymelatonin; D008550:Melatonin