Evaluation of melatonin supplementation in children with atopic dermatitis at aboreesh hospital, Egypt

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, pruritic, inflammatory skin disease commonly associated with poor sleep efficiency. Lower nocturnal melatonin secretion was significantly associated with sleep disturbance in the children with AD, which is a major factor leading to an impaired quality of life (QOL). Evaluation of melatonin role in management of AD associated with sleep disorders to improve quality of life (QOL). Randomized clinical trial used double blind placebo pre and post experimental for intervention group with 43 children in each group who were recruited from dermatology outpatient clinic Aboreesh Hospital. This study included children with AD aged from (5-15) years and involving at least five % of total body surface area. Patients were randomly allocated into Melatonin group and Placebo group. Full history was taken and full general and dermatological examination using scoring atopic dermatitis index were done. Serum melatonin and IgE levels were assessed before and after melatonin supplementation. There was significant difference between pre and post regarding serum Melatonin and IgE except in blood level of melatonin in placebo group. As regard serum level of melatonin become 14pg/ml while before study was 59 pg /ml. But at placebo group started 25.5pg/ml and become 17pg/ml. IgE showed significant difference in pre and post study, as it was 132 before melatonin and become 24 after supplementation of melatonin while in placebo group drop from 129 to 27. There was significant improvement in total eczema score in post study markedly from 69 to two in Melatonin group and from 72 to three in Placebo group. Melatonin supplementation is a safe and effective way to improve the sleep-onset latency and disease severity in children with AD.