Sex Hormones influence susceptibilty to MS

Pakpoor J, Wotton CJ, schmierer K, GiovannoniG, Goldacre MJ. Gender identity disorders and multiple sclerosis risk: A national record-linkage study Mult Scler. 2016. pii: 1352458515627205. [Epub ahead of print]
BACKGROUND: An altered balance of gonadal hormones in males with gender identity disorders (GIDs) may increase multiple sclerosis (MS) risk both inherently and secondary to treatment in undergoing male-to-female conversion.
OBJECTIVE:  We investigated any association between GIDs and MS through analysis of record-linked hospital statistics.
METHOD: Analysis of English Hospital Episode Statistics, 1999-2012.
RESULTS:  The adjusted rate ratio (RR) of MS following GIDs in males was 6.63 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.81-17.01, p = 0.0002). The RR of MS following GIDs in females was 1.44 (95% CI = 0.47-3.37, p = 0.58).
CONCLUSION:  We report a strong association between GIDs and MS in male-to-females, supporting a potential role for low testosterone and/or feminising hormones on MS risk in males.


You can read the conclusions but further clear evidence for an inflence of sex hormones on suceptibility to MS, and is probably a major reason why MS occurs more commonly in females

CoI: Study by TeamG.

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