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Progesterone deficiency and auto-immune arthritis

I scored 22 on your Q. I've had chronic systemic sero-negative (type HLA B27) arthritis for a long time. After a childhood with no serious illneses, but an acute challenge to immune system at 19 with a big wasp stinging, 2 years later... first signs of bursitis at 21 and I have been in difficulties with widespread pain and severely reduced mobility since 1993.

For years I went it alone, am at present in the care of a rheumatologist, currently taking anti-tnf's (biologics) with unclear/mixed benefits. I have long wished rheumatology would talk to endocrinology... specialisms are a bane in treatment of chronic illness in my view.

Female, 46, perimenopausal, have had children, tendency is for high... even sometimes v high BP, not low BP.

Any precedent for observing role of progesterone therapy in sero-negative arthropies? Answers here also be of interest to people with Crohns, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, anklosing spondylitis etc.

Many thanks for any feedback.

Comments for Progesterone deficiency and auto-immune arthritis

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Oct 06, 2009
 Progesterone deficiency and auto-immune arthritis
by: Wray

Progesterone can be of benefit in inflammatory/autoimmune disorders. Progesterone is a known stimulant of IL-10, an anti-inflammatory agent. It also stimulates the release of Th2 cytokines, which are anti-inflammatory and directly inhibits Th1 cytokines which are pro-inflammatory. It has also been shown to reduce the response of natural killer (NK) cells, TNFα (tumour necrosis factor-alpha), MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases), as well as other known initiators of inflammation.

All the above diseases you mention are low in progesterone, including RA, lupus and Lyme Disease. But they are all low in vitamin D too, which to my mind is the most critical missing nutrient. Interestingly a combination of vitamin D and progesterone is far more effective than either alone. For more information on vitamin D please see this web page on autoimmune diseases.

You might like to read this web page on psoriasis.

I have pasted a few general papers below, the space here doesn't allow for all the papers I could give you. Take care, Wray

Paper 1
Paper 2
Paper 3
Paper 4
Paper 5

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