BACKGROUND: Sex related differences in the course and severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) could be mediated by the sex hormones. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between serum sex hormone concentrations and characteristics of tissue damage on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in men and women suffering from relapsing-remitting MS. RESULTS: Serum testosterone was significantly lower in women with MS than in controls. The lowest levels were found in women with a greater number of gadolinium enhancing lesions. A positive correlation was observed between testosterone concentrations and both tissue damage on MRI and clinical disability. In men, there was a positive correlation between oestradiol concentrations and brain damage. CONCLUSIONS: The hormone related modulation of pathological changes supports the hypothesis that sex hormones play a role in the inflammation, damage, and repair mechanisms typical of MS.
BACKGROUND: Sex related differences in the course and severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) could be mediated by the sex hormones. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between serum sex hormone concentrations and characteristics of tissue damage on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in men and women suffering from relapsing-remitting MS. RESULTS: Serum testosterone was significantly lower in women with MS than in controls. The lowest levels were found in women with a greater number of gadolinium enhancing lesions. A positive correlation was observed between testosterone concentrations and both tissue damage on MRI and clinical disability. In men, there was a positive correlation between oestradiol concentrations and brain damage. CONCLUSIONS: The hormone related modulation of pathological changes supports the hypothesis that sex hormones play a role in the inflammation, damage, and repair mechanisms typical of MS.
Authors: Mohammad Amin Sherafat; Mohammad Javan; Sabah Mozafari; Javad Mirnajafi-Zadeh; Fereshteh Motamedi Journal: Neurochem Res Date: 2011-05-28 Impact factor: 3.996
Authors: R Bove; A Musallam; B C Healy; K Raghavan; B I Glanz; R Bakshi; H Weiner; P L De Jager; K K Miller; T Chitnis Journal: Mult Scler Date: 2014-04-07 Impact factor: 6.312
Authors: Sébastien N Giraud; Cécile M Caron; Danielle Pham-Dinh; Patrick Kitabgi; Arnaud B Nicot Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2010-04-19 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Ioana R Moldovan; Anne C Cotleur; Natacha Zamor; Robert S Butler; Clara M Pelfrey Journal: J Neuroimmunol Date: 2007-11-26 Impact factor: 3.478