Serum prolactin and sex hormone concentrations in patients with multiple
sclerosis (full pdf paper
here<http://www.medscimonit.com/pub/vol_5/no_2/958.pdf>
)
Elýbieta Zych-Twardowska, Andrzej Wajgt
1st Department of Neurology, Silesian Medical University, Katowice, Poland
key words: multiple sclerosis, hormones, analysis
Med Sci Monit, 1999; 5(2): 216-220

SUMMARY
Multiple sclerosis is considered to be a multifactoral disorder, with
genetic, autoimmune, and environmental
components. A few studies have indicated an influence of endocrine
abnormalities on the pathogenesis of multiple
sclerosis, and effect of demyelinization and therapy on hormonal system in
this disease. The aim of this
study was to evaluate endocrine function in patients with multiple
sclerosis
by an analysis of selected pituitary
and sex hormones in blood. The study group consisted of 49 patients with
multiple sclerosis, comprising 25
menstruating women, 6 postmenopausal women and 18 men. The
pituitary-gonadal
axis examination demonstrated
normal serum concentration of gonadotropins and testosterone in women and
men with multiple sclerosis,
but we found raised serum concentration of estradiol in men with multiple
sclerosis. There was statistically
significant difference between multiple sclerosis and normal subjects.
Our results confirm that hyperprolactinaemia frequently occurs in multiple
sclerosis, especially in menstruating
women and in men with multiple sclerosis. The results of this study
suggest
prevalence of hormonal disturbance
in patients with multiple sclerosis, with regard to
hyperprolactinaemia

. In
men with multiple sclerosis hyperprolactinaemia
was associated with raised serum concentration of estradiol.
Alterations in endocrine system in patients with multiple sclerosis
may have
essential significance for better
understanding of etiopathogenesis and the course of disease. Presence of
hormonal disturbances in these
patients may be an indication for modifying the therapeutic proceeding.

CONCLUSIONS
1. Men with multiple sclerosis manifest increased secretion of
prolactin and
oestradiol with simultaneous normal production of testosterone.
2. Hyperprolactinaemia (from
wiki<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperprolactinaemia>:
the presence of abnormally high levels of
prolactin<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prolactin>in the blood) is
observed in menstruating
women with multiple sclerosis.
3. The function of pituitary gland with respect to the secretion of
gonadotrophic hormones (FSH,LH) was normal.