INFLUENCE OF STEROID HORMONES IN WOMEN WITH MILD CATAMENIAL EPILEPSY
Abstract
Background: In view of considerable differences of opinion regarding the reproductive steroidhormonal pathogenesis in catamenial epilepsy, hormonal analysis of estrogen and progesterone in
catamenial epileptics for a precise correlation is of significant importance. Methods: Clinical,
neurological and physiological assessments, and radioimmunoassay of plasma estradiol-17b and
progesterone a day prior to the onset of menstruation were carried out in noncatamenial and mild
catamenial epileptics having multiple frequency tonic-clonic (primary and secondary generalized)
seizures. Results: Highly significant rise (p > 0.0001) of estradiol-17b was obtained for
catamenial epileptics compared to normal subjects as well as noncatamenial epileptics (p > 0.02).
However, nonsignificant fluctuations of progesterone were found for both catamenial and
noncatamenial epileptics against normal subjects as well as catamenial versus noncatamenial
epileptics. Conclusions: The present report suggests that estradiol have a precise role in the mild
premenstrual exacerbation of seizures. However, no significant change in progesterone levels
might have been due to mild exacerbation of seizures in these patients. Furthermore, we suggest
the importance of how we collect and categorize the data and which pathophysiologic process/
clinicobiological mechanism is involved in patients with catamenial epilepsy. Contradictory
results in literature may be related to differential levels of excitation/inhibition equilibrium during
various cycle phases. More precise studies including the determination of the blood levels of
antiepileptic drugs, however, are required.
Key Words: Estradiol, progesterone, mild catamenial epilepsy
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