Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Disclosure: A.K. Lucas-Herald: None. J.D. McNeilly: None. S.F. Ahmed: None. Introduction: Androgens are essential for normal vascular function. As such, early onset hypogonadism may be associated with an increased risk of accelerated vascular ageing and early vascular dysfunction. Methods: Boys aged 12-18 years were recruited from a tertiary paediatric endocrine clinic for non-invasive vascular phenotyping. Cases were boys who had proximal hypospadias and had undergone surgical repair for this or boys with genetically confirmed Klinefelter Syndrome. Controls were either healthy volunteers or boys who had undergone review for constitutional delay of puberty but had not required intervention. Vascular assessment was undertaken to assess blood pressure (BP), arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity), subclinical atherosclerosis (carotid artery intima media thickness (CIMT)) and endothelial function (brachial artery flow mediated dilatation (FMD)). Where appropriate, standard deviation scores (SDS) were used for comparisons adjusting for sex, age and height. Statistical analysis was done by Graphpad Prism v 8.0. Comparisons between groups were via ANOVA or Mann-Whitney U tests with p<0.05 representing statistical significance. Results: Twenty-two boys with conditions that may have been associated with a period of intra-uterine hypogonadism(hypospadias (n=11), Klinefelter Syndrome (n=11) (median age (range) 14.3 yrs (6.2, 16.9) and 11 healthy controls were recruited (median age 15.5 (6.8, 16.5)). There were no differences between the groups in terms of birthweight SDS, gestation at birth or presence of co-existing conditions. Systolic BP SDS was higher in boys with early onset hypogonadism (median (range) 1.25 vs. 0.5, p=0.01) compared to controls. There was no difference in SBP SDS between those with Klinefelter Syndrome and those with hypospadias (median (range) 1.0 vs. 1.5, p=0.6). CIMT SDS (1.75 vs. 0.0, p=0.02) and pulse pressure (34 vs. 30 mmHg, p=0.03) were increased in boys with early onset hypogonadism compared to controls but there were no differences in body mass index SDS, pulse wave velocity, FMD or mean arterial pressure. Conclusions: Adolescents with potential early onset hypogonadism have higher systolic BP SDS compared to healthy controls. There is a need to consider regular monitoring and early intervention in boys with early onset hypogonadism for risk stratification to prevent the development of cardiovascular disease later in life Presentation: 6/3/2024
Source: Journal of the Endocrine Society
Authors: A K Lucas-Herald, J D McNeilly, S F Ahmed
Institutions: University of Glasgow, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,418
OpenAlex ID: W4403148545