Decreased endogenous progesterone and ratio of progesterone to estrogen in stroke ischemia

Abstract

Progesterone and estrogen are two steroid hormones whose exposure may decrease the risk and delay the onset of ischemic stroke. The main objective of this study was to determine the plasma level of progesterone, estrogen and ratio of progesterone/estrogen in ischemic stroke patients. The plasma levels of progesterone, estrogen and ratio of  progesterone/estrogen in 30 patients (15 men and 15 women) with acute ischemic stroke was determined within 12 h of the onset of the attack as well as in 30 control subjects (15 men and 15 women) of comparable age. There were significant differences between the progesterone and ratio of progesterone/estrogen of stroke and control group (p = 0.022 and p = 0.001, respectively). Compared with control, stroke patients had lower levels of progesterone and ratio of progesterone/estrogen. There were not significant differences between levels of estradiol in stroke and control groups. The results showed ischemic stroke is accompanied by reduction of
progesterone and ratio of progesterone/estradiol. These reductions might be involved in the decreased protection of brain to ischemic injury.