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Plasma melatonin levels do not differ in SLE patients

Plasma-Melatonin-Konzentrationen unterscheiden sich bei SLE-Patienten nicht

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Abstract

Objective

This study aims to investigate the plasma melatonin levels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and its relationship with clinical and laboratory features.

Patients and methods

A total of 90 patients with SLE (82 females, 8 males; mean age 37.86 ± 13.98 years, range 19–77 years) and 90 healthy controls (82 females, 8 male; mean age 36.54 ± 10.89 years, range 22–60 years) were recruited for the current study. Plasma melatonin levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Melatonin levels were not significantly different in the plasma of patients with SLE compared with controls (P = 0.026). There was no significant difference regarding plasma melatonin level between SLE patients with nephritis and those without nephritis (P = 0.714); no significant difference was found between less active SLE and more active SLE (P = 0.791). The presence of IgM was associated with melatonin levels (P = 0.031) in SLE patients.

Conclusions

There is no significant difference in plasma melatonin levels between SLE patients and controls. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of melatonin in SLE.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel

Zielsetzung der Studie war die Untersuchung der Plasma-Melatonin-Konzentrationen bei Patienten mit systemischem Lupus erythematodes (SLE) und die Beziehung zu klinischen wie laborchemischen Parametern.

Patienten und Methoden

Insgesamt 90 Patienten mit SLE (82 weiblich, 8 männlich; Durchschnittsalter 37,86 ± 13,98 Jahre, Range 19–77) und 90 gesunde Kontrollpersonen (82 weiblich, 8 männlich; Durchschnittsalter 36,54 ± 10,89 Jahre, Range 22–60) wurden in die Studie aufgenommen. Die Plasma-Melatonin-Konzentrationen wurden mit einem ELISA („enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay“)-Test ermittelt.

Ergebnisse

Die Melatonin-Konzentrationen im Plasma der SLE-Patienten unterschieden sich nicht wesentlich von denen im Kontrollkollektiv (p = 0,026). Es gab keinen signifikanten Unterschied zwischen den Plasma-Melatonin-Konzentrationen bei SLE-Patienten mit Nephritis und denen ohne Nephritis (p = 0,714), ebenfalls wurde kein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen den Konzentrationen bei Patienten mit weniger aktiver SLE und denen mit aktiverer SLE ermittelt (p = 0,791). Bei den SLE-Patienten bestand eine Korrelation (p = 0,031) zwischen IgM und Plasma-Melatonin-Konzentrationen.

Zusammenfassung

Zwischen den Konzentrationen von Melatonin im Plasma von SLE-Patienten und denen von Kontrollpersonen besteht kein signifikanter Unterschied. Um die Rolle von Melatonin bei SLE genauer zu erforschen bedarf es weiterer Studien.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81573222, 81373073).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, 230032, Hefei, Anhui, China

    P. Wang, H.-M. Li, Y.-F. Zou & H.-F. Pan

  2. Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Population Health & Major Disease Screening and Diagnosis, Hefei, Anhui, China

    P. Wang, H.-M. Li, Y.-F. Zou & H.-F. Pan

  3. Department of Rheumatology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, China

    J.-H. Tao

Authors
  1. P. Wang
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  2. H.-M. Li
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  3. Y.-F. Zou
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  4. J.-H. Tao
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  5. H.-F. Pan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H.-F. Pan.

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Conflict of interest

P. Wang, H.-M. Li, Y.-F. Zou, J.‑H. Tao, and H.-F. Pan state that there are no conflicts of interest.

All studies on humans described in the present manuscript were carried out with the approval of the responsible ethics committee and in accordance with national law and the Helsinki Declaration of 1975 (in its current, revised form). Informed consent was obtained from all patients included in studies.

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Redaktion

U. Müller-Ladner, Bad Nauheim

U. Lange, Bad Nauheim

Peng Wang and Hong-Miao Li contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors.

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Wang, P., Li, HM., Zou, YF. et al. Plasma melatonin levels do not differ in SLE patients. Z Rheumatol 77, 66–70 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00393-016-0121-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00393-016-0121-3

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