Leonardo Azevedo Mobilia Alvares
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Flávia Siqueira Cunha
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Tainã Aci Amaral Oliveira
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Berenice Bilharinho Mendonca
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Elaine Maria Frade Costa
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Abstract
Introduction: Association between male pattern baldness, also called androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and risk of coronary artery disease has been suggested by several epidemiological studies. Exogenous testosterone (T) therapy in transgender men (TM) promotes the development of alopecia in genetically susceptible individuals, and increases facial and body hair, muscle mass (MM) and visceral fat. The outcome of a long-term androgenic therapy over the functional properties of large arteries and the cardiovascular system of TM are not well stablished. Objective: To investigate the possible association between AGA and arterial stiffness assessed by measurement of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (VOPcf) and intima-media thickness carotid artery (cIMT) in TM receiving long-term T therapy. Methods: Forty-six TM (mean age: 43 ± 10 yo) undergoing T therapy (mean time of treatment duration: 13 ± 10 y; mean serum T levels: 611 ± 439 ng/dL) were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. Hair pattern (Ferriman & Gallway scale), grades of male pattern baldness (Hamilton-Norwood scale) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) were analyzed. Subjects were considered to have AGA if they have vertex alopecia (grade ≥ 3). Arterial Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure > 140 and/or diastolic blood pressure > 90mmHg or under pharmacological treatment, and dyslipidemia as total cholesterol ≥ 240 mg/dL and/or LDL-c≥ 160 mg/dL and/or HDL-c < 40 mg/dL and/or triglycerides > 200 mg/dL, or under pharmacological treatment. Current smoking has been investigated. The aortic stiffness, assessed by VOPcf and cIMT, was measured using the Complior® device and carotid ultrasound, respectively. Results: TM’s Ferriman degree was 21 ± 6 and AGA was identified in 70% of them. The WHR was 0.9 ± 0.1. TM with AGA showed higher cIMT than TM without AGA (0.66 ± 0.1mm vs. 0.54 ± 0.07mm, p = 0.001), as well as higher WHR (0.93 ± 0.08 vs.0.87 ± 0.04, p = 0.02), higher score in terminal body hair (Ferriman 23 ± 6 vs. 18 ± 6, p = 0.007) and higher frequency of hypertension (94% vs. 6%, p = 0.01). The cIMT positively correlated with age (p = 0.01) and WHR (p = 0.002). The VOPcf was positively correlated with the age (p = 0.0001), androgen treatment duration (p = 0.01) and WHR (p = 0.04). There was a positive correlation between androgen treatment duration and WHR (p = 0.01). There was no difference in the VOPcf values, age, T treatment duration, serum T levels, frequency of dyslipidemia and smoking between the groups. Conclusion: The severe vertex AGA pattern may be considered a possible marker of arterial stiffness in TM undergoing long-term testosterone therapy.
Sustained Improvement of Arterial Stiffness and Blood Pressure after Long-Term Rosuvastatin Treatment in Patients with Inflammatory Joint Diseases: Results from the RORA-AS Study
