title: The relation between the clinical subtypes of delirium and the urinary level of 6-SMT.
abstract: Delirium is a common syndrome among hospitalized elderly patients. In humans, sleep and circadian rhythms are disturbed during delirium, and both are influenced by the hormone melatonin. This prompted us to investigate the relationship of the clinical subtypes of delirium: 1). hyperactive, 2). hypoactive, and 3). mixed, with melatonin, as reflected by a patient's urinary metabolite 6-SMT. Results support our hypothesis that urinary 6-SMT during delirium was higher in hypoactive and lower in hyperactive patients. Because this is the first time a biochemical parameter related to the clinical subtypes of delirium has been reported, further research on the link between melatonin and delirium is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Shmuel Harofe Hospital, Geriatric Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Beer Yacov, Israel. shmuelh@netvision.net.it
authors.forename: Silviu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balan
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leibovitz
authors.forename: Shen Orr
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Zila
authors.forename: Mishiev
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruth
authors.forename: Wechsler
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chana
authors.forename: Blumenfeld
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yassica
authors.forename: Biton
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rahel
authors.forename: Goldstein
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: Elon
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blagman
authors.forename: Beni
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Habot
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003693:Delirium / Q000145:classification / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000150:complications / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: C054513:6-sulfatoxymelatonin; D008550:Melatonin