The effect of oestrogen on cytokine and antioxidant levels in male to female transsexual patients.
OBJECTIVE
Whilst hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be beneficial, it can be associated with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and stroke. As male to female transsexuals take much higher doses of oestrogen than women on HRT, they provide a unique opportunity to study the long-term effects of oestrogen in a group of relatively young individuals who are largely free of established vascular disease.


METHODS
Thirty-eight male to female gender patients were enrolled into the study. Of these, 25 were receiving oestrogen treatment and 13 who were not on treatment served as a control group. Serum levels of cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, Interleukin 6 (IL-6), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in all patients.


RESULTS
The results showed that compared to the control group, patients on oestrogen had significantly raised levels of NO (32.1+/-14.3 versus 20.3+/-10.0, P<0.05) and reduced levels of IL-6 (0.75+/-0.6 versus 1.37+/-0.7, P<0.05) and SOD (13.2+/-3.0 versus 24.0+/-10.0, P<0.05). These changes were not accompanied by any significant change in plasma lipid levels.


CONCLUSIONS
It would appear that the very high levels of oestrogen taken by the gender patients produce similar beneficial effects to those seen in women on HRT. However, in this patient group it appears that these changes are independent of changes in cholesterol, triglyceride, and HLD.
Wilson
Rhoda
R
Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 10 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow G31 2ER, UK. gcl025@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
Jenkins
Carol
C
Miller
Helen
H
Carr
Susan
S
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D014189:Transsexualism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D016207:Cytokines; D004967:Estrogens; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014280:Triglycerides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002784:Cholesterol; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione