Sex hormones, obstetric and gynecologic characteristics of multiple sclerosis women with and without relapse.

BACKGROUND

Several studies show evidence of the relationship between sex hormone (SH) levels and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

OBJECTIVE

To describe serum SH levels and gynecological and obstetric characteristics of women with MS in remission and relapse.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. Gynecological, obstetric, clinical and laboratory measurements were analyzed. Serum determinations included 17b-estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone.

RESULTS

Eighty-nine patients were studied, with a mean age of 35.33 ± 9.5 and a mean age of 12.7 ± 1.7 menarche. 65.2% reported regular menstrual cycles (MC), 25.9% reported irregular MC, and 11 postmenopausal patients. Twenty-six patients experienced one or more miscarriages, 37 patients were nulligravidae, and in those who reported pregnancies, the median was two. Thirty-six patients were evaluated during a relapse; 22 of these patients had regular MC, and 59.1% of relapses occurred during the follicular phase. There was no difference in serum HS levels when compared between relapsed and non-relapsed groups.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a high frequency of irregular MCs and abortions in this sample of women with MS. In patients with regular BC, relapses occurred most frequently during the follicular phase.