Are SPS and IH related and if so, would treatment for IH relieve some SPS symptoms?
Celine
Celine Dion announced in 2022, that she had been diagnosed with “Stiff Person Syndrome” (SPS) and her affliction led me to a search of the www, regarding that rare condition.
It was obvious that the stress of such a devastating illness, added to the chronic stress of her profession and lifestyle, would in all likelihood have caused deep Intracellular Hypothyroidism (IH), thus adding hypothyroid symptoms to those of SPS.
On the other hand, I wondered whether IH, developing from her pre-existing chronic stress, might have been the underlying cause of the stiff person syndrome which threatened to ruin her life.
My web search failed to disclose sufficient supportive information, my efforts to contact her online representative were unsuccessful and although I felt inspired to write a post for my (then) website, “Hormone Therapy Explained”, I realised that it would merely be a statement of an unsupported opinion, with no solid scientific evidence and as such, would be ignored by any medical professionals, including Ms. Dion’s physician.
So I “shelved” it.
The idea has been “in the back of my mind” since then, and now, following my winter holidays (10 days in sunny Puerto Vallarta), my enthusiasm for controversial ideas and ”off-the-wall” proposals has returned.
So, let’s think about SPS!
This Post
This dissertation combines quotations from various websites with my own opinions on the subject, to articulate a suite of questions, which perhaps, some enterprising scientist may be motivated to investigate:
The Questions
(1) Are Stiff Person Syndrome and Intracellular Hypothyroidism (IH) related? if so,
(2) Would treating coexisting IH relieve the symptoms of SPS?
(3) Might IH be a prerequisite for SPS: if so, would therapy for IH cure SPS?
(4) Are other hormonal deficiencies related to SPS? If so,
(5) Which hormones are involved?
(6) Would hormonal supplementation be beneficial to individuals with SPS?
The National Organization for Rare Diseases
NORD, the National Organization for Rare Diseases, has provided, perhaps, the best dissertation on stiff person syndrome, describing it as an autoimmune disorder. [1]
NORD reminds us that autoimmune diseases are often associated with other autoimmune diseases, and that SPS occurs in company with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Vitiligo, Pernicious Anemia, Celiac disease and other autoimmune states.
(Interestingly, in support of its designation as “autoimmune”, SPS sometimes accompanies Type I Diabetes, which is an autoimmune condition, but it isn’t associated with Type ll Diabetes, which is not).
NORD says (gently paraphrased): “The Stiff Person Syndrome, a fluctuating condition of variable muscular rigidity, has been described in the medical literature under many different, confusing names. It was originally called “stiff man” syndrome, but that designation was changed to “stiff person”, because the disorder can affect individuals of any age, race, ethnicity and gender. Also notably, as with many autoimmune disorders, the majority of individuals who develop the condition are female”.
Allopathic Physicians “Take”, on SPS
Clinicians describe SPS as a spectrum of diseases ranging from the involvement of just one area of the body, to a widespread, rapidly progressive form that also includes involvement of the brain, brain stem and spinal cord. It is frequently misdiagnosed as a variant of Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis or other neurological conditions which present with muscular hypertonia.
My “take” on SPS
Hormonal balance affects all normal metabolic functions and ergo, should be assessed wherever an individual presents with a noncommunicable disease. No illness should be diagnosed and treated without an assessment of hormonal balance.
In view of the known relationship of stiff person syndrome with hypothyroidism and especially in view of its neuromuscular manifestations, thyroid hormone metabolism, the cytokines (especially IL-6), vitamin balances, gut microbiota, homocysteine and all neuro-active hormones should be meticulously evaluated.
Once specimens have been obtained for baseline testing, supplementation of DHEA, Pregnenolone, Vitamins B9, C and D can be prescribed empirically, since doing so will do no harm and since evidence of support from a medical practitioner will provide the patient a slight reduction of stress, while awaiting the test results.
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