Case-control study, 2008
Do women with seizures that worsen around their period have different hormone levels?
Yes. Women whose seizures get worse before their period have lower THDOC levels and a lower DHEAS/cortisol ratio throughout their cycle (p < 0.05), which might explain their worsening seizures.
What they did
They measured 7 hormones on 6 specific days throughout the menstrual cycle (days 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, and 27) in 17 young premenopausal women with seizures that worsen around their period and compared them to 13 age-matched control women.
What they found
Women with cyclical seizures had lower THDOC levels at every measurement time point (p < 0.05) and lower DHEAS/cortisol ratios. In contrast, three other hormones that are progesterone-related (progesterone, pregnenolone, allopregnanolone) were the same in both groups.
What it means for you
Lower THDOC and lower DHEAS/cortisol ratio may be involved in seizures that worsen with the menstrual cycle. However, the study was small (17 with seizures, 13 controls), and measuring hormones doesn't prove that raising THDOC would reduce seizures. The exact mechanism remains unclear.
17
women with cyclical seizures
13
control women
6
days of menstrual cycle measured
About the study
- Original title
- Reduced serum level of THDOC, an anticonvulsant steroid, in women with perimenstrual catamenial epilepsy
- Authors
- Tuveri A, Paoletti AM, Orrù M et al.
- Journal
- Epilepsia
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 17
- What was tested
- None. This was a measurement study only.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2008.01555.x
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