Estrogeni, infiammazione e sintomi catameniali: implicazioni per i clinici
摘要
This Review analyses the role that oestrogens have in the catamenial exacerbation of extra-menstrual inflammatory pathologies. Specifically, the following are analysed: premenstrual syndrome and dysphoric disorder of the late luteal phase; catamenial migraine and epilepsy; catamenial thoracic pathologies and catamenial asthma; fibromyalgia, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis; endocrinological autoimmune diseases; chronic pelvic pain, painful bladder syndrome, vulvodynia, dyspareunia, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Oestrogenic fluctuations are pro-inflammatory. Ovulation, menstruation and childbirth are three specific moments of reproductive life characterised by physiological fluctuations aimed at modulating cardinal immuno-neuro-endocrine events. Stable levels of oestrogen, obtained with appropriate continuous oestrogen or oestrogen-progestin therapy, orally or, even better, transdermal or transvaginal, are instead anti-inflammatory, with important implications on the therapeutic front precisely for extra-menstrual inflammatory pathologies with catamenial exacerbation.