Conclusion In limited clinical trials, estriol induced a remissive state via its ability to provoke an immunological shift from a TH1 proinflammatory state to a TH2 anti-inflammatory state, and is of therapeutic benefit in women with RRMS, but not SPMS. Additionally, there is emerging evidence that supports the use of testosterone as a therapeutic agent in men with MS. While testosterone has not been shown to induce remission in male patients, it does appear to play a role in both the inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes of MS.
Progesterone might also mitigate the neurodegenerative process, in that it stimulates remyelination. Future research should be aimed at further understanding the pathogenesis of the disease, and fully understanding the mechanisms of action of sex hormones as well as their relationships with each other and with immunological processes. 6 Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Vol 27, No 2, 2012
Sex Hormone Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis
Estrogen Treatment and MS
Testosterone Treatment and MS
Competing Interests: The author declares that she has no competing interests.
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