title: Altered arterial stiffness in male-to-female transsexuals undergoing hormonal treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Male-to-female (MTF) transsexuals are treated with estrogen with and without progestin through a variety of routes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the arterial stiffness in MTF transsexuals undergoing hormonal treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the arterial stiffness in 156 MTF transsexuals (22 untreated and 129 treated with estrogen only or plus progestin) using a volume-plethysmographic apparatus equipped with a multi-element applanation tonometry sensor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MTF transsexuals treated with parenteral estrogen were significantly older than untreated MTF transsexuals. Hematocrit, uric acid and activated partial thromboplastin time in treated MTF transsexuals were significantly lower than in untreated MTF transsexuals. The level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in MTF transsexuals treated with oral estrogen was significantly higher than in untreated MTF transsexuals or those treated with parenteral estrogen with and without progestin. The systolic blood pressure in MTF transsexuals treated with estrogen only is significantly lower than that in untreated MTF transsexuals. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity was significantly decreased in MTF transsexuals treated with estrogen compared to that in untreated MTF transsexuals or in those treated with estrogen plus progestin. The carotid augmentation index in MTF transsexuals treated with oral estrogen was significantly lower than that in MTF transsexuals treated with parenteral estrogen or oral estrogen plus progestin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Estrogen treatment is likely to have some beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and vascular function in MTF transsexuals; however, progestin administered with estrogen may have adverse effects on arterial stiffness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan.
authors.lastname: Sharula
authors.forename: Chebib
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chekir
authors.forename: Yayoi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Emi
authors.forename: Fujimi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Yukako
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Aiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Miwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tabuchi
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamada
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hiramatsu
authors.forename: Mikiya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakatsuka
mesh_terms: D000077713:17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004343:Drug Implants; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011372:Progestins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D004967:Estrogens; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D011372:Progestins; D000077713:17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone