OPTIC NEURITIS / MS & ACNE with MILD HIRSUTISM
3-beta HYDROXYSTEROID DEHYDROGENASE CONNECTION (Type I) ? ? ?
BACKGOUND:
I. 3b-HSD (Type I) is described as occurring in placenta and skin of
humans. The skin localization suggests there might also be neuronal/glial
localization in humans.
II. Late onset 3b-HSD deficiency is usually described in terms of Type II,
localizing in adrenals and gonads.
III. 3b-HSD shunts some pregnenolone into progesterone, allowing some
pregnenolone to proceed to 17-OHP and then to DHEA, DHEAS, etc.
IV. Lower levels of progesterone in the immediate vicinity of neurons/glia
are known to induce demyelination.
V. Increased DHEA and DHEAS are strongly associated with Acne and/or
Hirsutism.
VI. 'Twould seem that late onset 3b-HSD deficiency would lower progesterone
and increase DHEA and DHEAS in skin and in vicintiy of neurons and glia.
Several clinical symptoms might occur in the same person:
A. Acne and or Hirsutism
B. Optic Neuritis, possibly as a precursor to Multiple Sclerosis.
QUESTIONS:
1. Has anyone some references that report or discuss this kind of co-
occurrence of symptoms?
2. Might someone critique the causal pathway suggested here as capable of
generating the aforementioned symptoms co-occurrences?
Thank you,
Teresa Binstock, Researcher