Endogenous hormones and coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women

Factors associated with secondary coronary artery disease in rheumatoid arthritis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis based on observational studies

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this systematic review was to investigate the factors influencing the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Wan Fang Date, CBM, CNKI, and VIP databases were systematically searched to select the relevant literature. The quality of the incorporated studies was assessed with reference to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Stata16 was adopted to summarise the odds ratios, risk ratios, hazard ratios, and 95% confidence intervals for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 29 studies were included in this analysis, wherein the average age of RA patients was 50.5-81 years and the proportion of women was 44.4%-92%. The present meta-analysis suggested that increased CAD risk in RA patients was associated with age, male gender, smoking, glucocorticoids, Health Assessment Questionnaire scores, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, diabetes, and C-reactive protein concentration.

CONCLUSION

The present systematic review revealed the influencing factors of secondary CAD in RA patients, some of which could reduce the risk of secondary CAD through effective interventions, such as smoking cessation, exercise, and medications. However, the effects of age, RA severity, and different medication subgroups on CAD risk stratification warrant further investigation.

Hysterectomy With and Without Oophorectomy, Tubal Ligation, and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in the Nurses' Health Study II

Background: Hysterectomy, oophorectomy, and tubal ligation are common surgical procedures. The literature regarding cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk after these surgeries has focused on oophorectomy with limited research on hysterectomy or tubal ligation. Materials and Methods: Participants in the Nurses' Health Study II (n = 116,429) were followed from 1989 to 2017. Self-reported gynecologic surgery was categorized as follows: no surgery, hysterectomy alone, hysterectomy with unilateral oophorectomy, and hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy. We separately investigated tubal ligation alone. The primary outcome was CVD based on medical-record confirmed fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction, fatal coronary heart disease, or fatal and nonfatal stroke. Our secondary outcome expanded CVD to include coronary revascularization (coronary artery bypass graft surgery, angioplasty, stent placement). Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and were adjusted a priori for confounding factors. We investigated differences by age at surgery (≤50, >50) and menopausal hormone therapy usage. Results: At baseline, participants were on average, 34 years old. During 2,899,787 person-years, we observed 1,864 cases of CVD. Hysterectomy in combination with any oophorectomy was associated with a greater risk of CVD in multivariable-adjusted models (HR hysterectomy with unilateral oophorectomy:1.40 [95% CI: 1.08-1.82]; HR hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy:1.27 [1.07-1.51]). Hysterectomy alone, hysterectomy with oophorectomy, and tubal ligation were also associated with an increased risk of combined CVD and coronary revascularization (HR hysterectomy alone: 1.19 [95% CI: 1.02-1.39]; HR hysterectomy with unilateral oophorectomy: 1.29 [1.01-1.64]; HR hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy: 1.22 [1.04-1.43]; HR tubal ligation: 1.16 [1.06-1.28]). The association between hysterectomy/oophorectomy and CVD and coronary revascularization risk varied by age at gynecologic surgery, with the strongest association among women who had surgery before age 50 years. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that hysterectomy, alone or in combination with oophorectomy, as well as tubal ligation, may be associated with an increased risk of CVD and coronary revascularization. These findings extend previous research finding that oophorectomy is associated with CVD.

Sex steroids and sex steroid-binding globulin levels amongst middle-aged and elderly men and women from general population

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Availability of age- and sex-specific reference values for sex steroids and sex steroid-binding globulin (SHBG) levels allows for appropriate interpretation of research findings and their clinical applications. We report the sex-specific distribution and reference levels of sex steroids, including total estradiol, total testosterone and (calculated) free androgen index (cFAI), SHBG and other androgens dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and androstenedione across age.

METHODS

Using data from 3291 participants from the prospective population-based Rotterdam Study (2006-2008), we visualised the distribution of sex steroids and SHBG levels by calculating and depicting the 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 95th percentiles per year and per age-year across 5-year age bands to provide reference value ranges in men and women. Total estradiol and SHBG were measured using automated immunoassay and androgens using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

RESULT

Mean age was 56.8 (range 45.6-79.9) years in men and 56.9 (range 45.7-79.9) years in women. Amongst men, total estradiol and SHBG showed an increasing trend from 45 years onwards. In women, total estradiol and SHBG showed a decreasing trend from 45 years until the age of 60. From 60 years onwards, SHBG showed an increasing trend. For total testosterone, a clear declining trend was observed amongst men but not women. Other androgens showed a similar decreasing trend in both sexes from 45 years onwards.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Our study underlines sex-specific trends in sex steroids and SHBG levels with ageing. This warrants taking into account sex- and age-specific reference values for sex steroids and SHBG when investigating their impact on health outcomes to prevent controversial results and allow for their appropriate clinical application.

Genetic, Molecular, and Cellular Determinants of Sex-Specific Cardiovascular Traits

Despite the well-known sex dimorphism in cardiovascular disease traits, the exact genetic, molecular, and cellular underpinnings of these differences are not well understood. A growing body of evidence currently points at the links between cardiovascular disease traits and the genome, epigenome, transcriptome, and metabolome. However, the sex-specific differences in these links remain largely unstudied due to challenges in bioinformatic methods, inadequate statistical power, analytic costs, and paucity of valid experimental models. This review article provides an overview of the literature on sex differences in genetic architecture, heritability, epigenetic changes, transcriptomic signatures, and metabolomic profiles in relation to cardiovascular disease traits. We also review the literature on the associations between sex hormones and cardiovascular disease traits and discuss the potential mechanisms underlying these associations, focusing on human studies.

Aging, Cardiovascular Risk, and SHBG Levels in Men and Women From the General Population

AIMS

Prior studies have reported inconsistent results for the association between sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and cardiovascular disease among men and women. Although it is suggested that SHBG levels change with aging, the exact trend of SHBG across age and cardiovascular risk and the underlying mechanisms of these changes remain to be elucidated.

METHODS

Using data of 3264 men and women from a large population-based cohort study, we first visualized the distribution of serum SHBG levels across age. Second, we computed a cardiovascular risk factor sum score and investigated the mean SHBG levels across categories of the risk factor sum score and stratified per age-category. Next, linear regression models were used to investigate the associations between serum SHBG levels and age and potential regulators of SHBG, including body mass index (BMI), fasting insulin, sex steroids, thyroxine, and triglycerides.

RESULTS

Among men, a linear increase in SHBG levels with age and among women a U-shaped pattern was observed. Participants with larger number of cardiovascular risk factors had lower SHBG levels. When stratified by age, older participants had higher SHBG levels. A multivariate model including total testosterone and triglyceride levels in men and total testosterone, triglycerides, BMI, and fasting insulin in women explained, respectively, 46.2% and 31.8% of the variance in SHBG levels.

CONCLUSION

We observed a clear sex-specific pattern for SHBG levels with age. Our findings highlight the importance of taking into account the age-related changes in SHBG levels to avoid controversial results in the assessment of the cardiovascular risk associated with SHBG.

Variants translating reduced expression of the beta estrogen receptor gene were associated with increased carotid intima media thickness: A cross-sectional study in late postmenopausal women

There is debate on the role of estrogens in modulating the risk for atherosclerosis in women. Our purpose was to investigate whether the size of the estrogenic impact was independently associated with variation of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in healthy late postmenopausal women. The levels of circulating estrogens have been used in previous studies but the influence of SNPs of the estrogen receptors (ER) α and β have not been investigated.We performed a crossed-sectional study of 91 women in a university hospital. We used a double approach in which, in addition to the measurement of estradiol levels by ultrasensitive methods, genetic variants (SNPs) associated with differing expression of the ER α and β genes were assessed. Multivariable analysis was used to examine the association of candidate factors with the value of IMT and plaque detection at both the carotid wall and the sinus.A genotype combination translating reduced gene expression of the ERβ was directly associated with IMT at both the carotid wall (P = .001) and the sinus (P = .002). Other predictors of IMT were the levels of glucose, positively associated with IMT at both the carotid wall (P < .001) and the sinus (P = .001), age positively associated with IMT at the sinus (P = .003), and levels of vitamin D, positively associated with IMT at the carotid wall (P = .04).Poorer estrogenic impact, as concordant with a SNP variant imposing reduced expression of the ERβ, was directly associated with IMT at both the carotid wall and the sinus. Glucose level, vitamin D only for the carotid wall, and age only for the sinus, also emerged as independent factors in the IMT variance.

Testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin in dysglycemic women at high cardiovascular risk: A report from the Outcome Reduction with an Initial Glargine Intervention trial

AIMS

Total and free testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin may affect cardiovascular prognosis in women. The objective was to study the association between sex hormones and prognosis in women with dysglycemia and high cardiovascular risk.

METHODS

This epidemiological report included dysglycemic women from the Outcome Reduction with an Initial Glargine Intervention trial (n = 2848) with baseline total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin. Free testosterone was calculated with the Vermeulen formula. Cox regression analyses adjusted for variables including age, previous diseases and pharmacological treatments were used to estimate the association between these levels and the composite cardiovascular outcome (death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction or nonfatal stroke) and all-cause mortality per one standard deviation.

RESULTS

Patients (73% post-menopausal) were followed for a median of 6.1 years during which 377 cardiovascular events and 389 deaths occurred. In Cox analyses, total and free testosterone were not associated with any outcomes, but sex hormone-binding globulin was related to all-cause mortality in age adjusted (HR 1.15; 95% CI 1.06-1.24; p < 0.01) and fully adjusted analyses (HR 1.14; 95% CI 1.05-1.24; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing levels of baseline sex hormone-binding globulin were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality in dysglycemic women at high cardiovascular risk.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT00069784.

Metabolic Syndrome During Menopause

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) comprises individual components including central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and hypertension and it is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The menopause per se increases the incidence of MetS in aging women. The effect(s) of menopause on individual components of MetS include: i) increasing central obesity with changes in the fat tissue distribution, ii) potential increase in insulin resistance, iii) changes in serum lipid concentrations, which seem to be associated with increasing weight rather than menopause itself, and, iv) an association between menopause and hypertension, although available data are inconclusive. With regard to the consequences of MetS during menopause, there is no consistent data supporting a causal relationship between menopause and CVD. However, concomitant MetS during menopause appears to increase the risk of CVD. Furthermore, despite the data supporting the association between early menopause and increased risk of T2DM, the association between natural menopause itself and risk of T2DM is not evident. However, the presence and the severity of MetS appears to be associated with an increased risk of T2DM. Although the mechanism is not clear, surgical menopause is strongly linked with a higher incidence of MetS. Interestingly, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an increased risk of MetS during their reproductive years; however, with menopausal transition, the risk of MetS becomes similar to that of non-PCOS women.

Cardiovascular Implications of the Menopause Transition: Endogenous Sex Hormones and Vasomotor Symptoms

The menopause transition (MT) is a critical period of women's lives marked by several physiologic changes and menopause-related symptoms that have implications for health. Risk for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in women, increases after menopause, suggesting a contribution of the MT to its development. This article focuses on the relationship between 2 main features of the MT and women's cardiovascular health: (1) dynamic alterations of sex hormones, particularly endogenous estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone, and (2) vasomotor symptoms, the cardinal symptom of the menopause. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Reproductive Hormones and Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Midlife Women

CONTEXT

Reproductive hormones are important to the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women. However, standard estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) assays lack sensitivity at the levels of postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE

Investigate relations of mass spectrometry-assessed estrone (E1), E2, and T and SHBG and subclinical CVD in women.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Three hundred and four perimenopausal and postmenopausal women aged 40 to 60 years underwent subclinical CVD measurements. E1, E2, and T were assayed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; free T (FT) was estimated using ensemble allostery models. Regression models were adjusted for CVD risk factors.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Carotid artery intima media thickness, interadventitial diameter (IAD), and plaque; brachial flow mediated dilation (FMD).

RESULTS

Higher E1 was related to higher FMD [β(SE) = 0.77 (0.37), P = 0.04], indicating better endothelial function. Higher E2 was related to lower IAD [β(SE) = -0.07 (0.02), P = 0.004], indicating less carotid remodeling. Higher SHBG was related to higher FMD [β(SE) = 1.31 (0.40), P = 0.001], yet higher IAD [β(SE) = 0.15 (0.06), P = 0.02] and plaque [OR (95% CI) = 1.84 (1.16 to 2.91), P = 0.009]; FT showed a similar yet inverse pattern of relations as SHBG. Thus, higher SHBG and lower FT were associated with better endothelial function, yet greater carotid remodeling and plaque.

CONCLUSIONS

Endogenous E1 levels were related to endothelial function and E2 to vascular remodeling, suggesting distinct roles of these estrogens. SHBG and FT have complex roles depending on the vessel under study.

Simultaneous determination of three estrogens in human saliva without derivatization or liquid-liquid extraction for routine testing via miniaturized solid phase extraction with LC-MS/MS detection

Accurate quantitation of estrogens (i.e, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3)) is valuable for clinical assessment of human health and disease. Alterations in estrogen levels have been implicated in numerous pathological conditions. However, inadequacies in sensitivity and specificity, cumbersome sample preparation and invasive specimen collection hamper the usability of available methods for clinical applications. Herein, a simple, rapid, highly sensitive and specific LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of three estrogens in human saliva providing a non-invasive alternative to conventional blood samples. For the first time, a 96-well hydrophilic-lipophilic-balanced (HLB) microplate was employed for clean-up and enrichment of estrogens in a single extraction without the requirements of derivatization, evaporation, liquid-liquid extraction and online extraction. A rapid LC chromatographic separation with a turnaround time of 5.0min was achieved on a BEH C18 XP column. The use of 0.1mM ammonium fluoride (NH₄F) as LC additive, and integration of summated and scheduled multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions substantially improved the sensitivity to 1pg/mL, allowing the accurate quantitation of trace levels of three estrogens in one run. The assay was fully validated with good performance for extraction efficiency (67.0-85.6%), matrix effect (89.6-100.2%), linearity (from 1.0pg/mL up to 1000pg/mL), accuracy (98.9-112.4%) and precision (≤7.4%). Additionally, the assay was unaffected by 34 structurally-similar, potentially interfering substances tested at high clinical concentrations. The applicability of the assay was demonstrated by assessing the reference intervals of authentic saliva samples from healthy adult males, pre- and post-menopausal females. The easy sample preparation, fast LC and multi-analyte MS/MS detection utilizing noninvasive saliva as a specimen delivers a simple, practical, sensitive and accurate tool suitable for the high throughput measurement of E1, E2 and E3 in clinical laboratories.

Gaps, limitations and new insights on endogenous estrogen and follicle stimulating hormone as related to risk of cardiovascular disease in women traversing the menopause: A narrative review

While it is known that estrogen protects heart health in women prior to menopause, its role after menopause and during the menopause transition is far less apparent. Previous reviews summarizing the literature on the impact of endogenous estrogen on risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have focused on postmenopausal women and have not come to a clear conclusion. No previous review has summarized the associations between follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), a proxy measure of the menopause transition, and CVD risk. The main purpose of this narrative review is to highlight gaps and limitations in the literature on endogenous estrogen and FSH as related to CVD risk. Future directions are addressed in light of recent findings in the field. When studying the relationship of estrogen to cardiovascular risk, it is critical to separate endogenously produced estrogen from exogenously administered estrogen. Moreover, other reproductive hormones such as FSH should be assessed, since growing evidence suggests a potential contribution of this hormone. Evaluation of estrogen changes over time allows a separation of women based on their hormone trajectories. These individual trajectories correlate with subclinical CVD and thus indicate that it is much more important to observe a woman over time rather than ascribe risk to a single determination at a single time point. As women progress through menopause and the ovary stops producing estradiol, the nature of the relationship between estrogens and subclinical CVD markers also appears to undergo a switch. Studies are needed to examine the midlife course of endogenous estradiol, FSH and CVD risk. These studies should also consider other hormones, including androgens, with an eye towards helping women modify their cardiovascular risk in midlife, when prevention is most likely possible.

Unraveling the associations of age and menopause with cardiovascular risk factors in a large population-based study

BACKGROUND

Although the association between menopause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk has been studied extensively, the simultaneous role of chronological aging herein remains underexposed. This study aims to disentangle the relationships of menopausal status and chronological aging with CVD risk factors in the largest study population to date.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, CVD risk factors were compared between women with a different menopausal status within the same yearly age strata. The study population comprised female participants of the baseline visit of the population-based LifeLines Cohort Study. A total of 63,466 women, aged between 18 and 65 years, was included. Of them, 39,379 women were considered to be premenopausal, 8669 were perimenopausal, 14,514 were naturally postmenopausal, and 904 were surgically postmenopausal.

RESULTS

Compared to postmenopausal women aged 45 years, average total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) were 0.5 and 0.4 mmol/L higher, respectively, in postmenopausal women aged 50. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were 4 and 1 mmHg higher, respectively. At all ages between 46 and 55 years, and after adjustment for confounders, naturally postmenopausal women had 0.2 to 0.4 mmol/L higher TC and 0.1 to 0.3 mmol/L higher LDL-c levels compared to premenopausal women in the same age range. Systolic blood pressure levels were up to 4 mmHg lower in naturally post- compared to premenopausal women at all ages between 29 and 52 years. Body mass index levels were up to 3.2 kg/m² higher in women with surgical menopause compared to all other women between the ages 32 and 52 years. All aforementioned results were statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronological age and menopausal status are both independently associated with CVD risk factors. Based on the comparatively smaller observed differences associated with menopausal status than with chronological aging, the significance of a more unfavorable lipid profile in a later reproductive stage may be less obvious than previously thought.

Evaluation of an Isotope Dilution HPLC Tandem Mass Spectrometry Candidate Reference Measurement Procedure for Total 17-β Estradiol in Human Serum

The inaccuracy of 17-β estradiol (E2) measurements affects its use as a biomarker in patient care and research. Clinical and research communities called for accurate and standardized E2 measurements. Reference Measurement Procedures (RMPs), part of the CDC Hormone Standardization Program (HoSt), are essential in addressing this need and ensuring that methods are accurate and comparable across testing systems, laboratories, and over time. A candidate RMP (cRMP) was developed for the measurement of total E2 in serum using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) without derivatization. The cRMP meets suggested performance criteria for accuracy and precision through the use of isotope dilution, calibrator bracketing, and gravimetric measurements. The cRMP demonstrated high agreement with certified reference materials (no significant bias to BCR576, 577, and 578) and established RMPs (slope 1.00, 95% CI 1.00-1.01; intercept 0.02, 95% CI -0.01 to 0.06). The cRMP is highly precise with intra-assay, interassay, and total percent CVs of 2.7%, 1.3%, and 2.4%, respectively. A higher specificity was achieved by measuring E2 without derivatization, compared to methods using derivatization agents. The cRMP can serve as a higher-order standard for establishing measurement traceability and provides an accuracy base against which routine methods can be compared in HoSt.

Cardiovascular Risk in Women With Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Compared to Premenopausal Women at Middle Age

CONTEXT

A young age at menopause has been associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the cardiovascular risk profile between women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and premenopausal controls of comparable age.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional case control study.

SETTING

Two university medical centers.

PARTICIPANTS

Women above 45 years of age who were previously diagnosed with POI (n = 83) and premenopausal population controls of comparable age (n = 266).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, electrocardiogram, bilateral carotid intima media thickness, estradiol, T, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, SHBG, insulin, glucose, lipids, TSH, free T4, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, C-reactive protein, uric acid, creatinine, and homocysteine were measured. Potential associations between POI status and subclinical atherosclerosis were assessed.

RESULTS

Women with POI exhibited an increased waist circumference (β = 5.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6, 9.9), C-reactive protein (β = 0.75; 95% CI, 0.43, 1.08), free T4 levels (β = 1.5; 95% CI, 0.6, 2.4), and lower N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (β = -0.35; 95% CI, -0.62, -0.08), estradiol (β = -1.98; 95% CI, -2.48, -1.48), T (β = -0.21; 95% CI, -0.37, -0.06), and androstenedione (β = -0.54; 95% CI, -0.71, -0.38) concentrations compared to controls, after adjusting for confounders. After adjustment, a trend toward increased hypertension (odds ratio = 2.1; 95% CI, 0.99; 4.56) and decreased kidney function was observed in women with POI (creatinine β = 3.5; 95% CI, -0.05, 7.1; glomerular filtration rate β = -3.5; 95% CI, -7.5, 0.46). Women with POI exhibited a lower mean carotid intima media thickness (β = -0.17; 95% CI, -0.21, -0.13) and decreased odds of plaque presence compared to controls (odds ratio = 0.08; 95% CI, 0.03; 0.26).

CONCLUSIONS

Women with POI exhibited an unfavorable cardiovascular risk profile, including higher abdominal fat, elevated chronic inflammatory factors, and a trend toward increased hypertension and impaired kidney function compared to controls. However, we observed no signs of increased subclinical atherosclerosis in women with POI. Additional studies are required to identify specific determinants of long-term CVD risk in women with POI.

A review of the relationships between endogenous sex steroids and incident ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease events

For decades, it has been recognized that men have a higher age-adjusted risk of ischemic cardiovascular (CVD) events compared to women, thus generating hypotheses that sex steroids contribute to CVD risk. Potential mechanisms include genomic and non-genomic effects of sex steroids as well as mediation through classic CVD risk factors and obesity. However, results from randomized studies suggest that sex steroid supplementation in men and women do not result in improved CVD outcomes and may increase CVD risk. In contrast, prospective observations from endogenous sex steroid studies, i.e. among participants not using sex steroids, have suggested the opposite relationship. We reviewed the findings of prospective observational studies in men (17 studies) and women (8 studies) that examined endogenous sex steroids and CVD risk. These studies suggested a lack of association or that lower levels of testosterone or dihydrotestosterone are associated with higher CVD risk in both men and women. Higher, rather than lower, estradiol levels were associated with higher CVD risk in women. There were several significant gaps in the literature. First, it is unclear whether more sensitive measures of sex steroid levels might detect significant differences. Second, there are few prospective studies in women. Similarly, no studies report outcomes for high-risk groups such as African-Americans and Hispanics. Finally, few studies report upon ischemic coronary disease as opposed to ischemic stroke separately, although relationships between sex steroids and CVD may vary by vascular bed. Future investigations need to examine high risk groups and to distinguish between subtypes of CVD.

Androgen levels in women with various forms of ovarian dysfunction: associations with cardiometabolic features

STUDY QUESTION

Are differences in androgen levels among women with various forms of ovarian dysfunction associated with cardiometabolic abnormalities?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Androgen levels differed substantially between women with and without ovarian dysfunction, and increased androgen levels were associated with impaired cardiometabolic features in all women irrespective of their clinical condition.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Sex steroid hormones play important roles in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Extremes of low as well as high androgen levels have been associated with increased CVD risk in both men and women.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This cross-sectional study included 680 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), natural post-menopausal women (NM), or regular menstrual cycles (RC) (170 women per group).

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Measurements of serum testosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were performed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Assessments were taken of body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, lipid profiles, glucose, insulin and SHBG, and the bioactive fraction of circulating testosterone was calculated using the free androgen index (FAI).

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

PCOS women were hyperandrogenic [median FAI = 4.9 (IQR 3.6-7.4)], and POI women were hypoandrogenic [FAI = 1.2 (0.8-1.7)], compared with RC women [FAI = 1.7 (1.1-2.8)], after adjustment for age, ethnicity, smoking and BMI (P < 0.001). After adjustment for age, there were no significant differences in androgens between POI and NM (P = 0.15) women and between NM and RC (P = 0.27) women, the latter indicating that chronological aging rather than ovarian aging influences the differences between pre- and post-menopausal women. A high FAI was associated with elevated triglycerides (β log FAI for PCOS: 0.45, P < 0.001, POI: 0.25, P < 0.001, NM: 0.20, P = 0.002), insulin (β log FAI for PCOS: 0.77, POI: 0.44, NM: 0.40, all P < 0.001), HOMA-IR (β log FAI for PCOS: 0.82, POI: 0.46, NM: 0.47, all P < 0.001) and mean arterial pressure (β log FAI for PCOS: 0.05, P = 0.002, POI: 0.07, P < 0.001, NM: 0.04, P = 0.04) in all women; with increased glucose (β log FAI for PCOS: 0.05, P = 0.003, NM: 0.07, P < 0.001) and decreased high-density lipoprotein (β log FAI for PCOS: -0.23, P < 0.001, NM: -0.09, P = 0.03) in PCOS and NM women; and with increased low-density lipoprotein (β log FAI for POI: 0.083, P = 0.041) in POI women. Adjustment for BMI attenuated the observed associations. Associations between FAI and cardiometabolic features were the strongest in PCOS women, even after adjustment for BMI.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Associations between androgen levels and cardiometabolic features were assessed in PCOS, POI and NM women only, due to a lack of available data in RC women. Due to the cross-sectional design of the current study, the potential associations between androgen levels and actual future cardiovascular events could not be assessed.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

This study affirms the potent effect of androgens on cardiometabolic features, indicating that androgens should indeed be regarded as important denominators of women's health. Future research regarding the role of androgens in the development of CVD and potential modulatory effects of BMI is required.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS

N.M.P.D. is supported by the Dutch Heart Foundation (grant number 2013T083). L.J. and O.H.F. work in ErasmusAGE, a center for aging research across the life course, funded by Nestlé Nutrition (Nestec Ltd), Metagenics Inc. and AXA. M.K. is supported by the AXA Research Fund. Nestlé Nutrition (Nestec Ltd), Metagenics Inc. and AXA had no role in the design and conduct of the study; the collection, management, analysis and interpretation of the data; or the preparation, review or approval of the manuscript. J.S.E.L. has received fees and grant support from the following companies (in alphabetical order): Ferring, Merck-Serono, Merck Sharpe & Dome, Organon, Schering Plough and Serono. In the last 5 years, B.C.J.M.F. has received fees and grant support from the following companies (in alphabetic order); Actavis, COGI, Euroscreen, Ferring, Finox, Genovum, Gedeon-Richter, Merck-Serono, OvaScience, Pantharei Bioscience, PregLem, Roche, Uteron and Watson laboratories. With regard to potential conflicts of interest, there is nothing further to disclose.

Mass spectrometry and immunoassay: how to measure steroid hormones today and tomorrow

The recent onslaught of mass spectrometry (MS) to measurements of steroid hormones, including demands that they should be the only acceptable method, has confused clinicians and scientists who have relied for more than 40 years on a variety of immunoassay (IA) methods in steroid hormone measurements. There is little doubt that MS methods with their superior specificity will be the future method of choice in many clinical and research applications of steroid hormone measurement. However, the majority of steroid measurements are currently, and will continue to be, carried out using various types of IAs for several reasons, including their technical ease, cost and availability of commercial reagents. Speedy replacement of all IAs with MS is an unrealistic and unnecessary goal, because the availability of MS measurements is limited by cost, need of expensive equipment, technical demands and lack of commercial applications. Furthermore, IAs have multiple well-known advantages that vindicate their continuing use. The purpose of this article is to elucidate the advantages and limitations of the MS and IA techniques from two angles, i.e. promotion of MS and defence of IA. The purpose of the text is to give the reader an unbiased view about the current state and future trends of steroid analysis and to help him/her choose the correct assay method to serve his/her diagnostic and research needs.

Genetic Variant in the CYP19A1 Gene Associated with Coronary Artery Disease

The CYP19A1 gene encodes the enzyme aromatase, which is responsible for the biosynthesis of estrogens. The rs10046 polymorphism of CYP19A1 gene has been investigated in two studies on the occurrence of hypertension, but there are no studies on its correlation with coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated 189 subjects who were hospitalized at “KAT” General Hospital of Athens and underwent coronary angiography. Of these, 123 were found with CAD with an average age of 60 years and constituted the patients group and 66 subjects with an average age of 58 years without damage in the coronary vessels and constituted the control group (healthy). The frequencies of genotypes CC, CT, and TT of rs10046 polymorphism are significantly different between the group of CAD patients and the control group (0.34, 0.48, and 0.18 versus 0.20, 0.48, and 0.32, resp., P = 0.034) as the frequency of C allele (0.58 versus 0.44, resp., OR = 1.771 and P = 0.010). We found similar results for men, but not for women (small sample). The results of this study show that the rs10046 (C/T) polymorphism of CYP19A1 gene exhibits correlation with CAD and that patients with C allele have an increased probability of manifesting the disease.

Estrogen can modulate menopausal women's heart rate variability

The aim of our study was to compare the responses of heart rate variability (HRV) with two different types of hormonal substitution therapy (HT) in post-menopausal women (cross-sectional study) and to reveal an effect of HT shortly after beginning of its administration (follow-up study). To elucidate the influence of menopause and effects of different protocols of a HT on autonomic control of heart rate, we evaluated the heart rate variability (HRV) in 5 groups: premenopausal women (n=140), postmenopausal women without HT (n=360), women on HT with conjugated estrogen only (n=168), women on continuous combined estrogen-progesterone HT (n=117), and men (n=140). Frequency-domain of short-term stationary R-R intervals was performed to evaluate the total variance, low frequency power (LF; 0.04-0.15 Hz), high frequency power (HF; 0.15-0.40 Hz), portion of low frequency power (LF%) and ratio of LF to HF (LF/HF). Significantly lower portion of the LF was found in premenopausal women [46.9 (+/-2.7) nu] when compared to untreated postmenopausal women [54.3 (+/-2.9) nu] and men [55.2 (+/-3.0) nu]. Treatment by estrogen only was proved to decrease the LF% [40.1 (+/-2.1) nu] while no effect on HRV was observed in women treated with combination of estrogen and progesterone [57.2 (+/-3.1) nu]. Also the HF was lower in postmenopausal women [4.16 (+/-0.16) ms(2)] than in premenopausal women [4.79 (+/-0.22) ms(2)] and women treated with estrogen only [4.98 (+/-0.25) ms(2)] while in women treated with combined hormonal therapy the average value [3.99 (+/-0.21) ms(2)] did not significantly differ from that of untreated postmenopausal women. The follow-up study also proved increase of high frequency power already after two months of estrogen substitution therapy [4.86 (+/-0.14) ms(2) vs. 4.19 (+/-0.15) ms(2)]. These results suggest that higher vagal modulation of heart rate that seems typical for younger women becomes after menopause similar to that of men. We also proved a positive shift of HRV parameters toward more beneficial values as for a cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women treated with estrogens but not in those treated by combined estrogen - progesterone substitution therapy.

A metabolic view on menopause and ageing

The ageing of the global population calls for a better understanding of age-related metabolic consequences. Here we report the effects of age, sex and menopause on serum metabolites in 26,065 individuals of Northern European ancestry. Age-specific metabolic fingerprints differ significantly by gender and, in females, a substantial atherogenic shift overlapping the time of menopausal transition is observed. In meta-analysis of 10,083 women, menopause status associates with amino acids glutamine, tyrosine and isoleucine, along with serum cholesterol measures and atherogenic lipoproteins. Among 3,204 women aged 40-55 years, menopause status associates additionally with glycine and total, monounsaturated, and omega-7 and -9 fatty acids. Our findings suggest that, in addition to lipid alterations, menopause may contribute to future metabolic and cardiovascular risk via influencing amino-acid concentrations, adding to the growing evidence of the importance of amino acids in metabolic disease progression. These observations shed light on the metabolic consequences of ageing, gender and menopause at the population level.

Plasma estrogen levels, estrogen receptor gene variation, and ischemic arterial disease in postmenopausal women: the three-city prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

In older postmenopausal women, high levels of endogenous estrogen have been related to adverse health outcomes including ischemic arterial disease (IAD). Whether estrogen receptor-α (ESR1) and -β (ESR2) polymorphisms modulate the effects of estrogens on IAD has not been investigated.

METHODS

In the Three-City prospective cohort study among subjects older than 65 years, we used a case-cohort design in which plasma levels of total and bioavailable 17β-estradiol were measured. After exclusion of postmenopausal women using hormone therapy, a random subcohort of 533 women and 105 incident cases of first IAD events over 4 years of follow-up were analyzed. Five common polymorphisms of ESR1 and ESR2 were genotyped. Hazard ratios (HRs) of IAD for a 1-SD increase in hormones levels by the genotypes were estimated from Cox models after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors and a correction for multiple testing. We also investigated the role of hemostasis and inflammation as potential mediators.

RESULTS

Neither estrogens nor IAD risk was significantly associated with estrogen receptor polymorphisms. Overall, IAD risk increased with total estradiol [HR1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.77]. Stratified analysis by genotypes showed that total estradiol was positively related to IAD risk in women with ESR1 rs9340799-AA genotype but not in women with the AG/GG genotype (HR 1.62, 95% CI 1.22-2.17 and HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.81-1.30, respectively; P for interaction <.05). An additional adjustment for hemostatic variables reduced the HR by about one third in women carrying the rs9340799-AA genotype (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.06-1.90).

CONCLUSION

The ESR1 rs9340799 genotype may modify the IAD risk related to high endogenous estrogens levels in older postmenopausal women. Hypercoagulability may act as a mediator.

High variability in serum estradiol measurements in men and women

To reduce the variability in estradiol (E2) testing and to assure better patient care, standardization of E2 measurements has been recommended. This study aims to assess the accuracy and variability of E2 measurements performed by 11 routine immunological methods and 6 mass spectrometry methods using single donor serum materials and to compare the results to a reference method. The contribution of calibration bias, specificity or matrix effects, and imprecision on the overall variability of individual assays was evaluated. This study showed substantial variability in serum E2 measurements in samples from men and pre- and post-menopausal women. The mean bias across all samples, for each participant, ranged between -2.4% and 235%, with 3 participants having a mean bias of over 100%. The data suggest that calibration bias is the major contributor to the overall variability for nine assays. The analytical performances of most assays measuring E2 concentrations do not meet current needs in research and patient care. Three out of 17 assays would meet performance criteria derived from biological variability of ±12.5% bias at concentrations ≥20 pg/mL, and a maximum allowable bias of ±2.5 pg/mL at concentrations <20 pg/mL. The sensitivity differs highly between assays. Most assays are not able to measure E2 levels below 10 pg/mL. Standardization, specifically calibration to a common standard by using panels of individual patient samples, can reduce the observed variability and improve the utility of E2 levels in clinical settings.

A U-shaped relationship between haematocrit and mortality in a large prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Only a limited number of studies have investigated the correlation between haematocrit (HCT) and mortality in the general population, and few of those studies have had data on a wide range of low and high levels of HCT. We investigated the association between baseline HCT and mortality in a prospective cohort study of 49,983 adult subjects in Iran with a broad spectrum of HCT values.

METHODS

Data on socio-demographic and life-style factors, past medical history, and levels of HCT were collected at enrollment. During a mean follow-up of 5 years (follow-up success rate ~99%), 2262 deaths were reported. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

There was a U-shaped relationship between categories of HCT and mortality in both sexes: both low and high levels of HCT were associated with increased overall mortality and mortality from cardiovascular disease. The U-shaped relationship persisted after several sensitivity analyses were done, including analyses restricted to non-smokers and non-users of opium; analyses excluding deaths from accidents and other external causes as well as deaths of persons with self-reported ischemic heart disease at the baseline interview for the study; and analyses excluding the first 2 years of follow-up. Self-reported past medical history and lack of data about lipids and other cellular blood components were the major limitations of the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Low and high levels of HCT are associated with increased mortality in the general population. The findings in the present study can be of particular importance for low- and middle-income countries in which a substantial proportion of the population lives with suboptimal levels of HCT.

Endogenous sex steroid levels and cardiovascular disease in relation to the menopause: a systematic review

Heart disease remains a major cause of death among women in the United States. This article focuses on physiologic endogenous estrogen levels with a systematic review of literature related to endogenous sex steroid levels and coronary artery disease (CAD) among postmenopausal women with natural or surgical menopause. There is adequate reason to seek evidence for associations of circulating estrogen levels and CAD. In the future, even if ovarian senescence-associated hormonal changes are confirmed to be associated with CAD in cohort studies of postmenopausal women, there may be other components explaining the gender differences in CAD patterns.

Challenges to the measurement of estradiol: an endocrine society position statement

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to evaluate the current state of clinical assays for estradiol in the context of their applications.

PARTICIPANTS

The participants were appointed by the Council of The Endocrine Society and charged with attaining the objective using published data and expert opinion.

EVIDENCE

Data were gathered from published sources via online databases (principally PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Google Scholar), and the clinical and laboratory experience of the participants.

CONSENSUS PROCESS

The statement was an effort of the committee and was reviewed by each member. The Clinical Affairs Committee, the Council of The Endocrine Society, and JCEM reviewers reviewed the manuscript and made recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

The measurement of estradiol in biological fluids is important in human biology from cradle to grave. In addition to its centrality in sexual development, it has significant effects on skin, blood vessels, bone, muscle, coagulation, hepatic cells, adipose tissue, the kidney, the gastrointestinal tract, brain, lung, and pancreas. Alterations in its plasma concentration have been implicated in coronary artery disease, stroke, and breast cancer. Although modern immunoassays and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry-based methods for estradiol are reasonably well suited to the diagnosis and management of infertility (nonetheless, imprecision and method-to-method differences remain problematic), the very low concentrations that appear to be crucial in nonreproductive tissues are a separate and more difficult issue. Such levels of estradiol are too low to be routinely measured accurately or precisely, and further evolution of analytical methods and the way in which estradiol is standardized is needed.

Detrimental effects of endogenous oestrogens on primary acute myocardial infarction among postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

Traditionally, oestrogens were considered to be protective for the cardiovascular system for premenopausal women. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective case-control study to examine the association between endogenous oestrogens and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) risk among postmenopausal women.

METHODS

A case-control study was performed among 30 primary AMI patients and 60 control subjects. Baseline characteristics data was collected and endogenous sex hormones levels were determined using chemoluminescence and radioimmunoassay methods. Conditional logistic regression models were developed with adjustment for confounders.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, the circulating oestrone, oestradiol, androstenedione and testosterone levels were significantly higher in AMI patients (P < 0.05) while the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) level was lower (P < 0.05). Spearman correlation coefficients showed oestradiol was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in cases, but not in controls. In univariable conditional logistic regression models, oestrone, oestradiol, testosterone, WHR, BMI, diabetes and hypertension were all found to be positively associated with AMI (P < 0.05). After adjusting for these factors, oestradiol (odds ratio (OR) = 4.75; 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.07-21.10; P = 0.04) and WHR (OR = 6.46; 95 % CI = 1.09-38.39; P = 0.04) continued to demonstrate strong positive associations with AMI.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher level of oestradiol was potentially associated with primary AMI risk among postmenopausal women.

Endogenous oestradiol as a positive correlate of plasma fibrinogen among older postmenopausal women: a population-based study (the Three-City cohort study)

BACKGROUND

Plasma fibrinogen is a strong predictor of ischaemic arterial disease in women. Sex steroid hormones including hormone therapy may play an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease. However, whether endogenous sex steroid hormones influence the plasma fibrinogen concentrations among postmenopausal women remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the association of plasma fibrinogen levels with endogenous sex steroid hormones and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) among postmenopausal women.

METHODS

We used data from the French prospective Three-City cohort study that included 9294 noninstitutionalized men and women over 65 years of age. Total 17β-oestradiol (E2, pg/ml), total testosterone (T, ng/ml), SHBG (nm) and fibrinogen (g/l) were measured in stored plasmas in a subcohort of 602 randomly selected postmenopausal women who used neither hormone medication nor anticoagulation therapy. Multivariate linear regression models were used to estimate the regression coefficients assessed in fibrinogen unit by 1 SD increase in log-distribution of sex steroid hormones and SHBG.

RESULTS

E2 but neither T nor SHBG was positively associated with plasma fibrinogen levels (β = 0·148, P < 0·001). Adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes made no substantial change to the results (β = 0·145, P < 0·001). The association of fibrinogen with E2 was stronger among women with body mass index over 25 kg/m(2) compared with those with normal weight (β = 0·156, P < 0·001 and β = 0·092, P = 0·02, respectively, P for interaction = 0·04).

CONCLUSION

E2 emerges as a positive and independent correlate of plasma fibrinogen among postmenopausal women, especially in subjects who are overweight. These findings suggest a deleterious effect of endogenous oestrogens on cardiovascular risk profile among postmenopausal women.

High level of plasma estradiol as a new predictor of ischemic arterial disease in older postmenopausal women: the three-city cohort study

Background

Despite evidence that estrogens may be involved in atherothrombosis, the role of endogenous sex steroid hormones in ischemic arterial disease among postmenopausal women remains uncertain.

Methods and Results

In the Three-City prospective cohort study of subjects (n=9294) >65 years of age, we investigated the association of total 17β-estradiol, bioavailable 17β-estradiol, and total testosterone with the 4-year incidence of ischemic arterial disease among postmenopausal women who did not use any hormone therapy. We designed a case–cohort study including a random sample of 537 subjects and 106 incident cases of first cardiovascular events. Weighted Cox proportional-hazards models with age as the time scale were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for ischemic arterial disease by a 1–standard deviation increase in sex steroid hormones. In univariate analysis, HR of ischemic arterial disease was positively and significantly associated with both total and bioavailable estradiol levels. These associations remained significant after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, including body mass index, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and smoking status (HR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.12–1.79, P<0.01; and HR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.12–1.78, P<0.01, respectively). Separate analysis for coronary heart disease yielded similar results (adjusted HR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.10–2.02, P=0.01; and adjusted HR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.11–2.04, P<0.01, respectively), and a borderline significant trend was observed for ischemic stroke (HR: 1.34, 95% CI: 0.95–1.89, P=0.08; and HR: 1.32, 95% CI: 0.94–1.84, P=0.11, respectively). By contrast, no significant association was found between total testosterone and ischemic arterial disease in both univariate and adjusted analyses.

Conclusions

High plasma level of endogenous estradiol emerges as a new predictor of ischemic arterial disease in older postmenopausal women. (J Am Heart Assoc. 2012;1:e001388 doi: 10.1161/JAHA.112.001388.)

Long-term prospective study of the influence of estrone levels on events in postmenopausal women with or at high risk for coronary artery disease

Background. The link between endogenous estrogen, coronary artery disease (CAD), and death in postmenopausal women is uncertain. We analyzed the association between death and blood levels of estrone in postmenopausal women with known coronary artery disease (CAD) or with a high-risk factor score for CAD. Methods. 251 postmenopausal women age 50–90 years not on estrogen therapy. Fasting blood for estrone and heart disease risk factors were collected at baseline. Women were grouped according to their estrone levels (<15 and ≥15 pg/mL). Fatal events were recorded after 5.8 ± 1.4 years of followup. Results. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed a significant trend (P = 0.039) of greater all-cause mortality in women with low estrone levels (<15 pg/mL). Cox multivariate regression analysis model adjusted for body mass index, diabetes, dyslipidemia, family history, and estrone showed estrone (OR = 0.45; P = 0.038) as the only independent variable for all-cause mortality. Multivariate regression model adjusted for age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, family history, and estrone showed that only age (OR = 1.06; P = 0.017) was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality. Conclusions. Postmenopausal women with known CAD or with a high-risk factor score for CAD and low estrone levels (<15 pg/mL) had increased all-cause mortality.

Comparison of serum testosterone and estradiol measurements in 3174 European men using platform immunoassay and mass spectrometry; relevance for the diagnostics in aging men

BACKGROUND

The limitations of serum testosterone and estradiol (E(2)) measurements using non-extraction platform immunoassays (IAs) are widely recognized. Switching to more specific mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods has been advocated, but directly comparative data on the two methods are scarce.

METHODS

We compared serum testosterone and E(2) measurements in a large sample of middle-aged/elderly men using a common platform IA and a gas chromatography (GC)-MS method, in order to assess their limitations and advantages, and to diagnose male hypogonadism. Of subjects from the European Male Aging Study (n=3174; age 40-79 years), peripheral serum testosterone and E(2) were analyzed using established commercial platform IAs (Roche Diagnostics E170) and in-house GC-MS methods.

RESULTS

Over a broad concentration range, serum testosterone concentration measured by IA and MS showed high correlation (R=0.93, P<0.001), which was less robust in the hypogonadal range (<11 nmol/l; R=0.72, P<0.001). The IA/MS correlation was weaker in E(2) measurements (R=0.32, P<0.001, at E(2) <40.8 pmol/l, and R=0.74, P<0.001, at E(2) >40.8 pmol/l). Using MS as the comparator method, IA ascertained low testosterone compatible with hypogonadism (<11 nmol/l), with 75% sensitivity and 96.3% specificity. The same parameters with IA for the detection of low E(2) (<40.7 pmol/l) were 13.3 and 99.3%, and for high E(2) (>120 pmol/l) 88.4 and 88.6%.

CONCLUSION

A validated platform IA is sufficient to detect subnormal testosterone concentrations in the diagnosis of male hypogonadism. The IA used for E(2) measurements showed poor correlation with MS and may only be suitable for the detection of high E(2) in men.

Clinical characteristics, sex hormones, and long-term follow-up in Swiss postmenopausal women presenting with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

The overwhelming majority of patients with stress cardiomyopathy (SC) are postmenopausal women, suggesting an important pathophysiologic role of the female sex hormones. Preliminary data suggest that myocardial stunning might be provoked by estrogen deficiency.

HYPOTHESIS

We hypothesized that, compared with age- and gender-matched patients with myocardial infarction (MI) or patients with normal coronary arteries, patients with SC would exhibit altered levels of sex hormones. Furthermore, we aimed to describe the clinical course and the pattern of sex hormones of the SC patients during long-term follow-up.

METHODS

Blood samples obtained on hospital admission were analyzed for estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in women with SC (n = 17), age-matched women with acute MI (n = 16), and women with normal coronary arteries (n = 15). Six years after the initial event, SC patients underwent a clinical and echocardiographic follow-up and reassessment of sex hormones.

RESULTS

Estrogen concentrations at hospital admission were significantly higher in the SC group compared with the MI and the control groups, with no difference in P, FSH, and LH concentrations. Follow-up E2 after 6 years in SC patients was lower than during the acute SC episode. Follow-up P in these patients was lower than P in the MI and control groups during the acute event, with a similar trend for E2. After a median follow-up of 6.4 years, 1 sudden cardiac death occurred and 2 patients suffered from SC recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

During the acute event, E2 concentrations are elevated in postmenopausal SC patients compared with women with acute MI or with normal coronary arteries. The higher E2 concentrations might have exerted atheroprotective effects and thus diverted the stress response to SC rather than MI. Recurrence and/or sudden cardiac death remains a potential risk of SC.