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This is still being tested on rats, but I like that it seems to enhance the replacement of myelin.



Thyroid Hormone May Help Repair MS Damage
Tue 9 November, 2004 20:19

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Treatment with thyroid hormone enhances the replacement of myelin -- the insulating sheath around brain neurons -- in rats with a chronic demyelinating disease, researchers report

Since loss of myelin is the underlying problem in multiple sclerosis (MS), the authors believe this therapy could be useful for MS patients.

Previous reports have shown that thyroid hormone is needed for the normal maturation of precursor cells that become myelin-producing cells, the scientists explain in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Moreover, there is evidence that thyroid function is altered in MS patients.

Given these observations, Dr. Laura Calza, from the University of Bologna in Italy, and colleagues evaluated the effects of thyroid hormone therapy on re-myelination in rats with a chronic form of demyelinating disease.

Previously, the research team had shown thyroid hormone promoted re-myelination during the early phase of disease, but in this study they were interested in whether the hormone was helpful in the later ongoing stage, when myelin loss is more pronounced.

As noted, treatment with thyroid hormone enhanced and accelerated re-myelination in the model of chronic disease. However, for full benefit to be achieved, the hormone had to be administered relatively early.

"We suggest that thyroid hormone could have a role in potentiating reluctant myelination by inducing (precursor cells) to differentiate into myelinating (cells) during a specific phase of the disease," the researchers say.

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jh ... ction=news

Interesting post. I had a bout with hyperthyroidism after the birth of my second child. I had a bout of optic neuritis after the birth of my first child 4 years earlier. O.N. is often a precursor to MS shich is what I currently have. Both the hyperthyroidism and MS are seen as autoimmune diseases. Wonder if any other MSers have had similar experiences. Also seems, especially in women, one can be subclinical hypothyroid and we know that there is a greater occurence of MS in women. Just musing.

I quite agree, another very interesting post. Yet another hormone enters the MS puzzle.

Does anyone happen to know if the thyroid hormone used in this study was bioidentical or synthetic? In my reading on hormones, it seems that the researchers in Europe and Asia are much more likely than US scientists to utilize bioidentical and/or natural substances in their work.

I took synthetic thyroid for hypothyroidism for years before being diagnosed with MS at age 57.

Here's hoping everyone's well.

Sharon

Hi,
I also have hypothyroidism and take Thyroxine. From what my GP says it is also the body attacking 'self' in this case the thyroid gland. Much as MS is the body attacking 'self' the myelin. My sister has Chrons disease also the body attacking 'self' in her case the intestine lining. So the Gp ays they all of a similar type the body's immune system not being able to distinguish between self and non-self.

Good news is I never get coughs and colds etc - haven't for years - the immune system is so hyper it seems to get anything foreign. Wish it would recognise what's good and leave it alone!!
Selena

Hi! I'm another MSer with thyroid issues. I had subclinical hypothyroidism for years - blood tests always came back borderline, and they were watching it, but I didn't have any symptoms so I didn't need to go on any medicine. Then, about 6 months after I started Rebif, my thyroid hormone went bonkers. I knew something was going on... I thought at first it was MS-related. Lost ALL my energy, started putting on weight, had horrible consipation. Anyway, the blood test at that time showed I'd developed severe hypothyroidism, and I was put on Synthroid right away. I was told that it was probably related to the interferon, coupled with a predisposition to thyroid problems.

I'm not on Rebif anymore. Switched to Betaseron after my baby was born, but I'm still on Synthroid and have to have blood tests to make sure my dosage is okay.

I also have a whole family of 5 female cousins with hypothyroidism and 2 of them have lupus. Interesting...

Alyssa