An evaluation of the neuroendocrine response to sleep in pediatric burn patients.
BACKGROUND
Previous work demonstrated reduced stage 3+4 and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep following burn injury. This study evaluated the hormonal effects of drug intervention on measures of endocrine status. A secondary objective examined the relationship between hormones and sleep stage distribution.


METHODS
Forty patients 3-18 years of age with a mean percent total body surface area burn of 50.1 +/- 2.9 were randomly assigned to zolpidem or haloperidol utilizing a blinded crossover design. Polysomnography was performed 6 nights, 3/week over 2 weeks. Each week's first night of monitoring was conducted without medication, serving as a baseline. Hormonal levels (epinephrine, norepinephrine, growth hormone, melatonin, dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA], serotonin, cortisol) were obtained at 0600 h each study day.


RESULTS
Both drugs were associated with increased DHEA levels (P < .03); no other hormones were affected by medication. Significant inverse correlation was observed between REM sleep and epinephrine (r = -.34, P = .004) and norepinephrine levels (r = -.45, P = .02). A positive relationship existed between serotonin and sleep stage 3+4 (r = 0.24, P = .01) and REM (r = 0.48, P = .01). No other significant associations were identified between hormones and sleep.


CONCLUSIONS
This work characterizes the relationship between sleep deprivation and select endocrine parameters postburn. Drug interventions utilized in this study were either ineffective or insufficient in modulating improved hormonal response. Significance of zolpidem's and haloperidol's effect on serum levels of DHEA is unclear. The inverse correlation of epinephrine with REM may suggest that hypermetabolism associated with burns is partly due to lack of REM sleep. Questions remain regarding the effects of sleep deprivation on metabolism and clinical outcome.
Gottschlich
Michele M
MM
Department of Nutrition, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. mgottschlich@shrinenet.org
Khoury
Jane
J
Warden
Glenn D
GD
Kagan
Richard J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects; D000077334:Zolpidem
D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D006728:Hormones; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011725:Pyridines; D000077334:Zolpidem; D006220:Haloperidol