Multidisciplinary study finds estrogen could aid in therapies for progressive multiple sclerosis

Multidisciplinary study finds estrogen could aid in therapies for progressive multiple sclerosis

About 100,000 of the estimated million people in the United States with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a progressive form of the disease, with symptoms that worsen continuously or after periods of remission.

Pregnancy Hormones Show Promise in Treating Progressive MS

Researchers have identified two forms of estrogen, estradiol and estriol, that may reduce inflammation and protect nerve fibers in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Using a virus model of the disease, the study found that both hormones lowered spinal cord inflammation, while estradiol significantly preserved the myelin sheath that protects nerve cells.