Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Cross-sex hormone therapy (CHT) is known to lead to alterations in cardiovascular risk factor(CVRF).

Objective: To assess changes in lipid profile and other CVRF in transsexual subjects receiving CHT.

Materials and methods: Retrospective longitudinal study. We evaluated individuals with gender identity disorder following CHT, assisted in the Gender Identity Unit from 2015 to 2017. Primary endpoint was lipid profile change from baseline at 24 months. Secondary endpoints included change in body mas index(BMI), weight, blood pressure(BP) and glycaemic parameters.Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS Statistics 20.0:t-Student to compare means for paired quantitative data and Chi-square for qualitative variables.

Results: 40 transsexuals, 19 male-to-female (MtF: 47.5%) and 21 female-to-male (FtM: 52.5%). Mean age 23.86±11.25 years, mean duration of CHT 24.7±39.9 months.Mean age and mean duration of CHT was similar in both group. In the MtF group,weight and BMI increased significantly, from 72.12±19.04 to 75.17±19.96 kg (P=0.01) and from 23.84±5.79 to 25.02±5.85 kg/m² (P=0.02),respectively, as well as diastolic blood pressure(DBP)(from 71.80±15.59 to 75.60±14.72 mmHg (P=0.03)) and triglycerides(TG)(from 102.90±83.69 to 108.81±88.37 mg/dl (P=0.035). FtM transsexuals also presented an increase in weight(70.02±11.14 to 72.17±11.17 kg (P=0.02) and BMI (from 24.03±4.04 to 25.32±4.11 kg/m² (P=0.035)).No significant differences in lipid profile and blood pressure were observed in this group.Even though final levels were all within normal range.No significant differences were observed with regard to gender (MtF vs. FtM).

CONCLUSION: MtF transsexuals experienced alterations in weight, serum lipid profile and diastolic BP because of CHT while FtM only experience changes in weight and BMI, although final levels were all within normal range. No significant differences were observed with regard to gender (MtF vs. FtM).We suggest that clinicians should monitor glucose and lipid metabolism and blood pressure regularly according to established guidelines.