Altered profiles of serum neuroactive steroids in premenopausal women treated for alcohol addiction

The patients exhibited depressed progesterone, Prog17, PI, and estradiol, a decreased progesterone/pregnenolone ratio, a decreased ratio of neuroinhibiting P3α5α to neuroactivating PregS, and an elevated PregS and PregS/pregnenolone ratio. The treatment mostly restored the indices. The reduction of neuroinhibiting pregnanolone isomers in the patients is primarily associated with the impairment in ovarian steroid biosynthesis. Nevertheless, changes in enzyme activities connected with the formation of PI and the influence of altered physiological requirements on the balance between endogenous neuroinhibiting and neuroactivating steroids are also likely. The reinstatement of serum estradiol, progesterone, and PI during the therapy demonstrates its favorable effect on both reproductive functions and the psychosomatic stability of the patients.