[6-sulfatoxymelatonin in women with secondary amenorrhea].

We evaluated the overnight urinary excretion of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin in a group of 347 women (range: 18-69 years). 26 women (range 20-29 years) with normogonadotrophic, hypoestrogenemic amenorrhoea (WHO II) were selected and compared with a group of 26 women menstruating normally (range: 19-30 years) with respect to urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion, serum 17 beta-estradiol levels and response to the thyroid releasing hormone (TRH) test. Patients with hyperprolactinemia, hyperandrogenemia, thyroid dysfunction and weight problems were excluded. 6-sulfatoxymelatonin was found to be significantly higher in the amenorrhoeic women than in the controls (p < 0.000001). In the amenorrhoeic patients a statistically significant inverse correlation was found between serum 17 beta-estradiol levels and urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion. A positive correlation was obtained between the thyroid stimulation hormone (TSH) value measured at 20 minutes after stimulation and 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion. Further clinical research in this field is required to evaluate its clinical impact, especially in patients with secondary amenorrhea.