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Sex hormones modulate brain damage in multiple sclerosis: MRI evidence
V Tomassini1, E Onesti, C Mainero
1Department of Neurological Sciences, University La Sapienza, viale dell'Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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.