Sex hormones are associated with right ventricular structure and function: The MESA-right ventricle study.
BACKGROUND
Sex hormones have effects on the left ventricle, but hormonal influences on the right ventricle (RV) are unknown.


OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that sex hormones would be associated with RV morphology in a large cohort free of cardiovascular disease.


METHODS
Sex hormones were measured by immunoassay and RV ejection fraction (RVEF), stroke volume (RVSV), mass, end-diastolic volume, and end-systolic volume (RVESV) were measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in 1,957 men and 1,738 postmenopausal women. The relationship between each hormone and RV parameter was assessed by multivariate linear regression.


RESULTS
Higher estradiol levels were associated with higher RVEF (β per 1 ln[nmol/L], 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32 to 1.43; P = 0.002) and lower RVESV (β per 1 ln[nmol/L], -0.87; 95% CI, -1.67 to -0.08; P = 0.03) in women using hormone therapy. In men, higher bioavailable testosterone levels were associated with higher RVSV (β per 1 ln[nmol/L], 1.97; 95% CI, 0.20 to 3.73; P = 0.03) and greater RV mass and volumes (P ≤ 0.01). Higher dehydroepiandrosterone levels were associated with higher RVSV (β per 1 ln[nmol/L], 1.37; 95% CI, 0.15 to 2.59; P = 0.03) and greater RV mass (β per 1 ln[nmol/L], 0.25; 95% CI, 0.00 to 0.49; P = 0.05) and volumes (P ≤ 0.001) in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher estradiol levels were associated with better RV systolic function in women using hormone therapy. Higher levels of androgens were associated with greater RV mass and volumes in both sexes.
Ventetuolo
Corey E
CE
Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
Ouyang
Pamela
P
Bluemke
David A
DA
Tandri
Harikrishna
H
Barr
R Graham
RG
Bagiella
Emilia
E
Cappola
Anne R
AR
Bristow
Michael R
MR
Johnson
Craig
C
Kronmal
Richard A
RA
Kizer
Jorge R
JR
Lima
Joao A C
JA
Kawut
Steven M
SM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000502:physiology*
D000728:Androgens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol