The Influence of Progesterone and Mineralocorticoids upon Myasthenia Gravis
Authors: MARCEL FRENKEL
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1964)

Article1 June 1964The Influence of Progesterone and Mineralocorticoids upon Myasthenia GravisMARCEL FRENKEL, M.D., EDWARD N. EHRLICH, M.D.MARCEL FRENKEL, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, EDWARD N. EHRLICH, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-60-6-971 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptExacerbations of myasthenia gravis have been associated with pregnancy as well as the premenstrual phase of the reproductive cycle (1, 2). Since increasing rates of progesterone production are characteristic of pregnancy and the normal premenstruum, it seemed likely that progesterone might be responsible for the diminution of strength in these circumstances. The fact that progesterone can significantly influence electrolyte balance by virtue of its capacity to inhibit the salt-retaining activity of mineralocorticoids (3) provides a means of relating the metabolic properties of progesterone to alterations of muscle function. Any effect upon sodium or potassium exchange resulting from a fluctuation in...References1. OSSERMANKOSOVSKYSPEERT KENH: Pregnancy in myasthenia gravis. Amer. J. Med. 19: 720, 1955. Google Scholar2. OSSERMANKORNFELDCOHENGENRINSMENDELOWGOLDBERGWINDSLEYKAPLAN KEPEGHHHLI: Studies in myasthenia gravis: review of 282 cases at the Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City. Arch. Intern. Med. (Chicago) 102: 72, 1958. CrossrefGoogle Scholar3. LANDAULUGIBIHL RLK: Inhibition of the sodium-retaining influence of aldosterone by progesterone. J. Clin. Endocr. 18: 1237, 1958. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. KENYONKNOWLTONSANDIFORDKOCHLOTWIN ATKIFCG: A comparative study of the metabolic effects of testosterone propionate in normal men and women and in eunuchoidism. Endocrinology 26: 26, 1940. CrossrefGoogle Scholar5. BONGIOVANNICLAYTON AMGW: A simplified method for routine determination of pregnanediol and pregnanetriol in urine. Bull Hopkins Hosp. 94: 180, 1954. MedlineGoogle Scholar6. KLIMANPETERSON BRE: Double isotope derivative assay of aldosterone in biological extracts. J. Biol. Chem. 235: 1639, 1960. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. FRENKEL M: The effect of insulin and potassium in myasthenia gravis. Arch. Neurol. (Chicago) 9: 447, 1963. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. LANDAULUGIBIHL RLK: The catabolic and natriuretic effects of progesterone in man, in Recent Progress in Hormone Research, Edited by PINCUS, Vol. 17, p. 249, Academic Press, New York, 1960. Google Scholar9. JONESLLOYD-JONESRIONDELTAITTAITBULBROOKGREENWOOD KMRAJFSARDFC: Aldosterone secretion and metabolism in normal men and women and in pregnancy. Acta Endocr. (København) 30: 321, 1959. MedlineGoogle Scholar10. EHRLICHLAVESLUGIBIHLLANDAU ENMKRL: Progesterone-aldosterone interrelationships in pregnancy. J. Lab. Clin. Med. 59: 588, 1962. MedlineGoogle Scholar11. AUGUSTNELSONTHORN TJDHGW: Response of normal subjects to large amounts of aldosterone. J. Clin. Invest. 37:1549, 1958. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. HEMPEL-JORGENSENEILERSEN PP: Antagonism of aldosterone by progesterone: effect of progesterone in two cases of hepatic cirrhosis. Acta Med. Scand. 168: 55, 1960. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. COPPAGELIDDLE WSGW: Mode of action and clinical usefulness of aldosterone antagonists. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 88: 815, 1960. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar14. LAIDLAWRUSEGORNALL JCJLAG: The influence of estrogen and progesterone on aldosterone excretion. J. Clin. Endocr. 22: 161, 1962. CrossrefGoogle Scholar15. REICH M: The variations in urinary aldosterone levels of normal females during their menstrual cycle. Aus. Ann. Med. 11: 41, 1962. MedlineGoogle Scholar16. HODGKINHOROWICZ ALP: The influence of potassium and chloride ions on the membrane potential of single muscle fibers. J. Physiol. (London) 148: 127, 1959. CrossrefGoogle Scholar17. HODGKINHOROWICZ ALP: Movements of sodium and potassium in single muscle fibers. J. Physiol. (London) 145: 405, 1959. CrossrefGoogle Scholar18. CONN JW: Primary aldosteronism: a new clinical syndrome. J. Lab. Clin. Med. 45: 1, 1955. Google Scholar19. HECHTERLESTER OG: Cell permeability and hormonal action. Recent Progr. Hormone Res. 16: 139, 1960. MedlineGoogle Scholar20. HADJUSZENT-GYORGYI SA: Action of DOC and serum on the frog heart. Amer. J. Physiol. 168: 159, 1952. MedlineGoogle Scholar21. WILSONWRIGHT ATS: Anticurare action of potassium and other substances. Quart. J. Exp. Physiol. 26: 127, 1937. CrossrefGoogle Scholar22. HOLLANDDUNNGRIEG WCCEME: Studies on permeability. VII. Effect of several substrates and inhibitor of anticholinesterase on permeability of isolated auricles to Na and K. Amer. J. Physiol. 168: 546, 1952. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar23. TORDAWOLFF CHG: Effects of administration of adrenocorticotropic hormone on patients with myasthenia gravis. Arch. Neurol. Psychiat. (Chicago) 66: 163, 1951. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: MARCEL FRENKEL, M.D.; EDWARD N. EHRLICH, M.D.Affiliations: Chicago, IllinoisFrom the Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology) and Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.This work was supported in part by grant BT-1057 and by program project grant B-3358 of the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness. The studies were carried out in the Clinic Research Center with United States Public Health Service grant FR-55 and the Argonne Cancer Research Hospital, which is operated by the University of Chicago for the United States Atomic Energy Commission and supported by grant AM-1528, United States Public Health Service, Bethesda, Maryland.Requests for reprints should be addressed to Marcel Frenkel, M.D., Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, 950 East 59th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byChapter 12 Neurotoxicology of neuromuscular transmissionPostoperative CareA ROLE OF ?-FETOPROTEIN IN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASESINFLUENCE OF ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN ON THE IN VITRO AND IN VIVO IMMUNE RESPONSE TO ACETYLCHOLINE RECEPTORREFERENCESThe Metabolic Influence of ProgestinsSonstige Wirkungen von GestagenenMyasthenia gravis in uncontrolled juvenile hyperthyroidismMyasthenia Gravis: Current Trends*Endocrine Aspects of Myasthenia Gravis 1 June 1964Volume 60, Issue 6Page: 971-981KeywordsMedical servicesMineralocorticoidsMyasthenia gravisNeurologyOphthalmologyPotassiumPregnancyProgesteroneSodiumSurgery ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 June 1964 PDF downloadLoading ...