The Serum Level of Estrogen and Progesterone and Their Ratio in Patients with Ischemic Stroke: A Comparative Study

Background: The role of estrogen and progesterone in stroke is suggested inprevious studies, but yet is controversial.Objectives: Comparing the plasma levels of estrogen and progesterone andtheir ratio in ischemic stroke patients and healthy population.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study wasconducted from March to September of 2013. Sixty-six female patients olderthan 60 years with ischemic stroke who referred within the first 12 hour of theirneurologic symptoms were included. A total of 48 women who were in thesame age range comprised the control group. The serum levels of progesteroneand 17-β-estradiol concentrations were measured. The data were analysed byChi2 test, univariate and logistic regression models in SPSS software 19.Results: There was no significant difference between case and control groupsin serum levels of estrogen (28.66 ± 13.60 vs. 35.72 ± 28.36) and progesterone(1.07 ± 0.83 vs. 1.40 ± 1.87) and their ratio (p > 0.05). But in multivariateanalysis, estrogen (p = 0.033), progesterone (p = 0.02) and the interactionbetween them (p = 0.013) remained as associated factors.In addition, the higher ratio of estrogen to progesterone indicates the less abilityof patients, which one unit increase in this ratio results in 0.072 reduction inNIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) score.Conclusions: The level of estrogen and progesterone and interaction betweenthem are associated with ischemic stroke. The ratio of estrogen to progesteronehas reverse association with score of the ability of patient according to NIHSS.

Keywords:

Estrogens , Progesterone , Stroke