Relationship between symptom severity and steroid variation in women with premenstrual syndrome: study on serum pregnenolone, pregnenolone sulfate, 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione and 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one.

Abstract

The relationship between symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and serum levels of pregnenolone (Pe), pregnenolone sulfate (PS), 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione (5 alpha-DHP), 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha- pregnan-20-one (5 alpha-THP), LH, 17 beta-estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P) was investigated during 2 consecutive menstrual cycles in 12 patients using daily measurements. Corresponding hormones were also measured during 1 cycle in 8 control women. Pe, PS, 5 alpha-DHP, and 5 alpha-THP showed a significant cyclicity within menstrual cycles and a high rate of correlation with P variation in both PMS patients and controls. No significant difference was found between PMS patients and controls in average serum concentrations of Pe, PS, 5 alpha-DHP, 5 alpha-THP, and LH during the luteal phase, whereas a significantly higher level of E2 and a lower level of P were observed in PMS patients. The variation in symptom scores was compared with that in hormone levels within each woman. The symptom peak showed a delay of 3-4 days after the serum P, Pe, 5 alpha-DHP, and 5 alpha-THP peaks. However, the plasma PS peak appeared on the same day or only 1 day before the symptom peak in PMS patients. When comparing the 2 cycles studied, more negative symptoms occurred in cycles with higher luteal phase E2, Pe, and PS concentrations, whereas higher luteal phase 5 alpha-DHP and 5 alpha-THP concentrations were associated with improved symptom ratings in PMS patients. These results suggest that the mentioned steroids are related to the severity of distressing symptoms in PMS patients.

• Authors: M Wang, L Seippel, R H Purdy, T Bãckström
• Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (J Clin Endocrinol Metab) Vol. 81 Issue 3 Pg. 1076-82 (Mar 1996) ISSN: 0021-972X [Print] United States
• PMID: 8772579 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Hormones
• Pregnanediones
• pregnenolone sulfate
• Pregnenolone
• 5-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone
• Pregnanolone

Topics

• 5-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone
• Adult
• Female
• Hormones (blood)
• Humans
• Luteal Phase (blood)
• Menstrual Cycle (blood)
• Osmolar Concentration
• Pregnanediones (blood)
• Pregnanolone (blood)
• Pregnenolone (blood)
• Premenstrual Syndrome (blood, physiopathology)