Posted by Michel L (24.202.31.83) on June 26, 2001 at 17:48:06:
In Reply to: CH and women...new article posted by dougW on June 26, 2001 at 11:28:32:
I rarely post but this is an as good time as any.
When I was looking into the possibility of a viral connection to clusterheadache, I also was looking into the documented 1 to 4 ratio of women versus men as cluster sufferers. Some studies have demonstrated that progesterone enhanced protein p-12 production in women and that protein p-12 was an important contributor in myelin production and protection. Since progesterone is present 3/4 of the time in fertile women, it would be normal that only 1/4 of the total clusterhead population would be women if the viral theory would be acceptable and also, it would appear normal that post-menopause women would be more prone to become clusterheads if exposed to a cytomegalotype virus later in life (many viruses from this general category).
Many factors are required for someone to be or become a clusterheadache sufferer, this explains the low prevalence of the affiction in the general population. The myelin defect is only one of the element and this study only seem to demonstrate that there is a connection even if it's not mentioned.
Michel L
Quebec City