Arterial Stiffness in Transgender Men Receiving Long-term Testosterone Therapy
Open Access
- 6 March 2023
- journal article
- research article
- Published by The Endocrine Society in Journal of the Endocrine Society
- Vol. 7 (5), bvad040
- https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvad040
Abstract
Context The effects of androgen therapy on arterial function in transgender men (TM) are not fully understood, particularly concerning long-term androgen treatment. Objective To evaluate arterial stiffness in TM receiving long-term gender-affirming hormone therapy by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV). Design A cross-sectional case-control study. Setting Gender Dysphoria Unit of the Division of Endocrinology, HC-FMUSP, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Patients Thirty-three TM receiving intramuscular testosterone (T) esters as regular treatment for an average time of 14 ± 8 years were compared to 111 healthy cisgender men and women controls matched for age and body mass index (BMI). Aortic stiffness was evaluated by cf-PWV measurements using the Complior® device post-testosterone therapy. Main outcome measures Aortic stiffness by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) as a cardiovascular risk marker in transgender men and control group. Results The cf-PWV after long-term testosterone therapy was significantly higher in TM (7.4 ± 0.9 m/s; range: 5.8–8.9 m/s) than in cisgender men (6.6 ± 1.0 m/s; range: 3.8–9.0 m/s, p < 0.01) and cisgender women controls (6.9 ± 0.9 m/s; range: 4.8–9.1 m/s, p = 0.02). The cf-PWV was significantly and positively correlated with age. Analysis using blood pressure as a covariate showed a significant relationship between TM SBP and cf-PWV in relation to cisgender women but not to cisgender men. The age, the SBP and the diagnosis of hypertension were independently associated with cf-PWV in transgender men group. Conclusions The TM group on long-term treatment with testosterone had higher aging-related aortic stiffening than the control groups. These findings indicate that aortic stiffness might be accelerated in the TM group receiving the gender-affirming hormone treatment, and suggest a potential deleterious effect of testosterone on arterial function. Preventive measures in TM individuals receiving testosterone treatment, who are at higher risk for cardiovascular events, are highly recommended.Funding Information
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (303002/2016-6, 457978/2014, 308873/2018-1)
This publication has 49 references indexed in Scilit:
- A long-term follow-up study of mortality in transsexuals receiving treatment with cross-sex hormonesActa Endocrinologica, 2011
- Determinants of pulse wave velocity in healthy people and in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors: ‘establishing normal and reference values’European Heart Journal, 2010
- Effects of continuous vs. interval exercise training on blood pressure and arterial stiffness in treated hypertensionHypertension Research, 2010
- Dissociation of Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity With Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease Other Than HypertensionHypertension, 2009
- Increased arterial stiffness in female‐to‐male transsexuals treated with androgenJournal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, 2008
- Androgens in relationship to cardiovascular risk factors in the menopausal transitionClimacteric, 2008
- Expert consensus document on arterial stiffness: methodological issues and clinical applicationsEuropean Heart Journal, 2006
- Sex Steroids Modulate Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cell Matrix Protein Deposition and Matrix Metalloproteinase ExpressionHypertension, 2005
- Elevated Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity, a Marker of Arterial Stiffness, Predicts Cardiovascular Events in Well-Functioning Older AdultsJournal of the American College of Cardiology, 2005
- Testosterone inhibits tumor necrosis factor‐α‐induced vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 expression in human aortic endothelial cellsFEBS Letters, 2002