Progesterone antagonists

[Guest guest]

A friend sent me an article from Medscape that referred to some

studies in mice that showed recent reports that progesterone

antagonists and ascorbic acid can successfully treat rodent models of

CMT.

I've seen quite a bit about Vitamin C, but have never seen any

chat about progeterone antagonists. My friend also thinks I need to

be seen by an endocronologist in addition to my neurologist. Does

anyone have any more insight on this? Also, I've been biting my

tongue a lot (not the " keep my thoughts to myself " rendition, but

literally) lately. CMT related?

*** I will repost the onapristone abstract. That study was done for CMT

1A, like the Vitamin C Study. Read below for the most current update on

progesterone antagonists. Anti-progesterone treatment can have some potential

side effects, especially in women of child-bearing age and researchers are

working on this to come up with safe treatment. If you feel you want the opinion

of an endocrinologist, then get one. Sometimes friends can push a bit too much,

that is my experience. You have seen so much on Vitamin C because 1) it is FDA

approved, 2) readily available and 3) members at have had some good

success with it ~ Gretchen

Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2005 Jan;7(1):23-31.

Current Therapy for Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease.

Grandis M, Shy ME.

Department of Neurology, Wayne State University, 4201 Saint Antoine Street,

Detroit, MI 48201, USA.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), or heritable peripheral neuropathies, is among the

most frequent genetic neuromuscular disorders, with a prevalence of

approximately 1:2500. Since 1991, remarkable advances have occurred in

determining the precise genetic cause of many forms of CMT and in generating

animal models of many of these disorders. However, these advances have not yet

resulted in cures for CMT. Recently, potential treatments for the most common

form of CMT, CMT-1A, have been shown in rodent models of the disorder. Treatment

with onapristone, a progesterone antagonist, has improved the neuropathy of the

CMT-1A rat. Treatment with large doses of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) has improved

the neuropathy of the CMT-1A mouse. Multicentric trials with ascorbic acid are

likely to start in the near future to assess if vitamin C supplementation is

effective and what is the dosage required in humans to improve neurologic

disability. Because of potential side effects with antiprogesterone therapy,

particularly in women of child- bearing age, research is actively proceeding

with progesterone antagonists to develop safe medications that also can be used

in clinical trials of CMT-1A. Although no cures are available for CMT, there are

many important treatments available for patients with CMT that can improve their

quality of life and help them maintain their independence. Some of these

therapies involve physiatry and orthopedic surgery. Others involve pain

management. Lastly, there are potential concerns about medications or lifestyle

issues that may exacerbate CMT. All of these issues will be discussed.