The Role of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone in Vascular Dysfunction
Observed in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients
Abstract
Background: Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) who receive a hematopoietic
cell transplantation (HCT) are at increased risk for
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)
abnormalities, which may have a substantial negative impact on vascular
function. This study’s purpose was to examine the association of
vascular function with FSH and LH in HCT recipients, non-HCT recipients
and healthy controls. Procedures: The study included CCS who were HCT
recipients (n=24) and non-HCT recipients (n=308), and a control group of
healthy siblings (n=211) all aged between 9-18 years. Vascular measures
of carotid artery structure and function (compliance and
distensibility), brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and
nitroglycerin-mediated endothelial-independent dilation (EID) were
measured using ultrasound imaging. FSH, LH, testosterone (males only),
and estrogen (females only) were measured from a fasting blood sample.
Results: FSH was significantly higher in HCT recipients compared to
non-HCT recipients and healthy controls (p<0.01). The groups
did not differ significantly for LH, testosterone, or estrogen. Carotid
compliance and distensibility were significantly lower in HCT and
non-HCT recipients compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). FMD
and EID did not differ significantly between groups. Higher FSH was
associated with decreased carotid compliance (p<0.05). Higher
testosterone was associated with lower EID (p<0.05).
Conclusion: This study’s results suggest that higher levels of FSH in
HCT recipients may result in significant reductions in vascular function
compared to non-HCT recipients and healthy controls. Therefore,
endocrine dysfunction, particularly abnormal FSH levels, may be an
underlying mechanism of vascular dysfunction.