PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Martin, Peter R.
AU  - Higa, Sadayoshi
AU  - Burns, R. Stanley
AU  - Tamarkin, Lawrence
AU  - Ebert, Michael H.
AU  - Markey, Sanford P.
TI  - Decreased 6‐hydroxymelatonin excretion in Korsakoff's psychosis
AID  - 10.1212/WNL.34.7.966
DP  - 1984 Jul 01
TA  - Neurology
PG  - 966--966
VI  - 34
IP  - 7
4099  - http://n.neurology.org/content/34/7/966.short
4100  - http://n.neurology.org/content/34/7/966.full
SO  - Neurology1984 Jul 01; 34
AB  - Mean (± SEM) urinary excretion rate of the major melatonin metabolite 6-hydroxymelatonin (μg/day) was lower in 7 (2.8 + 1.0) of 8 men with Korsakoffs psychosis (KP) than in 15 healthy men (11.4 ± 1.4). Treatment with the α2-noradrenergic agonist clonidine decreased daily 6-hydroxymelatonin excretion (p < 0.02). Reduced daily excretion of 6-hydroxymelatonin in KP reflects decreased melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland, perhaps as a residual effect of lesions due to past thiamine deficiency (Wernicke's encephalopathy).