SUN-048 Cardiometabolic Effects of Cross-Sex Hormone Therapy in Transgender Patients

Background: Sex hormones are believed to play an important role in development and progression of cardiovascular disease. However, the gender gap in onset and mortality is not yet completely understood. Transsexuals undergoing hormone therapy are a promising collective for analysing the effects of sex hormones on cardiometabolic disease. Methods: Aim of this study is to identify gender specific cardiovascular changes attributed to high-dose cross-sex hormone therapy (HT) in male-to-female (MtF) and female to male (FtM) transgender patients by performing an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and 3 Tesla magnet resonance spectroscopy for hepatic (HCL) and myocardial (MYCL) lipid content analysis. The control group (CON) is conducted by age, sex and BMI matched healthy individuals. Results: Until now we included 26 MtF,14 FtM patients and 12 age and BMI matched healthy controls. The mean age was comparable in all 3 groups (MtF 30.12±2.31, FtM 29.72±1,91, CON 30,23±1.22 as well as BMI (22.59±3.81, 21.62±2.53, 21.33±1.20 kg/m2, p=ns, respectively). The mean hormone therapy duration was similar in both groups (MtF 4.58±1.20 vs FtM 2.35±0,95, p=0,29). HOMA Index did not significantly differ between the groups (MtF 1,78±0,92 vs FtM 1,96±1.22 vs CON 1,8±1.01, p=0,3 vs 0,4 vs 0,3 respectively). HCL was significantly higher in MtF than FtM (1,50±0,41 % vs 0.54±0,33 %, p=0,022, respectively). We also found a significant correlation between ejection fraction (EF) and Testosterone levels (Spearmans Rho 0,80, p=0.002). Conclusio: These preliminary data could indicate a positive effect of Testosterone therapy on heart function. Contradictory to current data we found a higher HCL in MtF than FtM suggesting a not so protective estrogen effect when looking at the liver. Long-term studies are warranted to assess whether cross-sex HT results in different outcomes regarding cardiovascular disease.

Pericardial Fat Relates to Disturbances of Glucose Metabolism in Women with the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, but Not in Healthy Control Subjects

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present study is to investigate the relationship of cardiac fat depots with disturbances of the carbohydrate metabolism in women with PCOS.

METHODS

An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was realized, and metabolic parameters were collected in 48 women with PCOS and in 20 controls. Intramyocardial fat (MYCL) and pericardial fat (PERI) were measured using ¹H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging.

RESULTS

Only in PCOS women, PERI was positively and independently related to parameters of glucose metabolism (HbA1c: p = 0.001, fasting plasma glucose: p < 0.001, stimulated glucose at 30 and 60 minutes in the OGTT). Thus, the disposition index, insulin sensitivity, and adiponectin also declined with the increase of PERI in women with PCOS; however, these results were not independent of BMI and age. In addition, PERI was positively related to atherogenic lipid profiles, BMI, waist circumference, CRP, and liver fat in women with PCOS. A negative relation of PERI with triglycerides and a positive relation with BMI and waist circumference could be observed in the controls. No relationship of MYCL with diabetes-specific parameters could be found in the study population.

CONCLUSION

PERI is related to metabolic disturbances in women with PCOS, but not in metabolically healthy lean subjects. This clinical trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov and has the registration number NCT03204461.