POTENCIAL IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECT OF HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPHIN IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

LORENA V JURIOL; MARÍA FLORENCIA QUIROGA; MARÍA SILVIA VENTIMIGLIA; FEDERICO JENSEN; NATALIN J VALEFF; JORGE CORREALE

San Diego

Congreso; ACTRIMS 2018; 2018

Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is 2-3 times more common in women than men. It is well known that pregnancy has a strong influence on MS disease activity and a reduced relapse frequency (70%) is seenduring pregnancy. After delivery, MS symptoms often worsen, with frequent relapses in the postpartum period and highest relapse frequency within 3 months after delivery. Hormonal factors arethus assumed to be involved in regulating the course of the disease. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is exclusively produced by the placenta during pregnancy and the presence of its receptorhas been described in immune cells, such as B and T cells.