title: Effects of transdermal testosterone on natriuretic peptide levels in women: a randomized placebo-controlled pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether testosterone administration alters natriuretic peptide levels in women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical research center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one women with hypoandrogenemia due to hypopituitarism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transdermal testosterone (300 μg daily) or placebo patch.
  
  
  METHODS
  N-Terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NT-proBNP levels decreased in the transdermal testosterone group compared with placebo over three months. The difference between groups remained significant after controlling for baseline age, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Change in NT-proBNP over 3 months was inversely associated with change in free testosterone levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Testosterone administration to women results in decreased natriuretic peptide levels, suggesting that testosterone may be an inverse regulator of the natriuretic peptide system.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT00027430.
authors.affiliation: Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Newton-Cheh
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buys
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Karen K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000728:Androgens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001900:Boston; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D013997:Time Factors; D057968:Transdermal Patch; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D013739:Testosterone