title: Potential Utility of Melatonin in Preeclampsia, Intrauterine Fetal Growth Retardation, and Perinatal Asphyxia.
abstract: Reactive oxygen species play an important role in the pathogenesis of several diseases during gestation and the perinatal period. During pregnancy, increased oxygen demand augments the rate of production of free radicals. Oxidative stress is involved in pregnancy disorders including preeclampsia and intrauterine fetal growth retardation (IUGR). Moreover, increased levels of oxidative stress and reduced antioxidative capacities may contribute to the pathogenesis of perinatal asphyxia. Melatonin, an efficient antioxidant agent, diffuses through biological membranes easily and exerts pleiotropic actions on every cell and appears to be essential for successful gestation. This narrative review summarizes current knowledge concerning the role of melatonin in reducing complications during human pregnancy and in the perinatal period.
  
  
  
  Melatonin levels are altered in women with abnormally functioning placentae during preeclampsia and IUGR. Short-term melatonin therapy is highly effective and safe in reducing complications during pregnancy and in the perinatal period. Because melatonin has been shown to be safe for both mother and fetus, it could be an attractive therapy in pregnancy and is considered a promising neuroprotective agent in perinatal asphyxia.
  
  
  
  We believe that the use of melatonin treatment during the late fetal and early neonatal period might result in a wide range of health benefits, improved quality of life, and may help limit complications during the critical periods prior to, and shortly after, delivery.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy lmarseglia@unime.it.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marseglia
authors.affiliation: Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.affiliation: Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manti
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Russel J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.affiliation: Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Eloisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gitto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008550:Melatonin / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: antioxidant; asphyxia; gestation; melatonin; oxidative stress