Evaluating sex hormone levels in reproductive age women with multiple sclerosis and their relationship with disease severity

Abstract

• BACKGROUND: Sex-related differences in the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) could be influenced by the sex hormones.
• MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cohort (historical) study evaluated the sex hormone levels during menstrual cycle and their correlation with disease severity in MS.
• RESULT: Patients with MS had significantly lower testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and prolactin levels than controls in the follicular and luteal phase but lower estradiol levels only in the follicular phase. A positive correlation coefficient between follicle stimulating hormone and disease severity, and a reverse correlation with estradiol were found.
• CONCLUSION: The hormone-related modulation of disease severity supports the suggestion that sex hormones play a role in MS disease.
• Key words: Disease severity, estradiol, hormones, multiple sclerosis, progesterone, testosterone, women