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Objective: The pathophysiological process behind the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in transgender women remains to be elucidated. This exploratory study aimed to investigate whether changes in platelet activation and inflammation after the start of feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) could be a contributing mechanism. Design: Longitudinal cohort study. Methods: Venous blood was collected from 17 transgender women at 0, 12 and 52 weeks after GAHT initiation, consisting of estradiol and testosterone suppression. Platelet activation markers plasma thromboxane B2, Closure Time, CD63, CD62p, platelet-leukocyte complexes and immature platelet fraction were measured. CRP and 11 cytokines were measured as inflammation markers. Results: CD63, CD62p and platelet-leukocyte complexes tended to increase after 12 weeks of GAHT. After 52 weeks, all platelet activation markers showed anti-aggregatory changes. Eight out twelve inflammation markers exhibited a decreasing tendency at week 12. Equivalently, after 52 weeks, eight inflammation markers tended to decrease, seven of which had also exhibited a decrease at week 12. Conclusions: The collective findings suggest that platelet activation fluctuates during feminizing GAHT, exhibiting an initial increase followed by a decrease. Additionally, inflammation markers tend to decrease. Within the scope of this study, we could not identify GAHT induced platelet activation as a definite contributing factor in the increased risk of CVD in transgender women. Studies with larger numbers of participants and longer follow-up duration are needed to further investigate the effect of feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapy on platelet activation and inflammation. Trial registration: EudraCT #2017-003072-31.

Abstract Blood pressure measurements form a critical component of adverse event monitoring for tyrosine kinase inhibitors, but might also serve as a biomarker for dose titrations. This study explored the impact of various sources of within‐individual variation on blood pressure readings to improve measurement practices and evaluated the utility for individual‐ and population‐level dose selection. A pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic modeling framework was created to describe circadian blood pressure changes, inter‐ and intra‐day variability, changes from dipper to non‐dipper profiles, and the relationship between drug exposure and blood pressure changes over time. The framework was used to quantitatively evaluate the influence of physiological and pharmacological aspects on blood pressure measurements, as well as to compare measurement techniques, including office‐based, home‐based, and ambulatory 24‐h blood pressure readings. Circadian changes, as well as random intra‐day and inter‐day variability, were found to be the largest sources of within‐individual variation in blood pressure. Office‐based and ambulatory 24‐h measurements gave rise to potential bias (>5 mmHg), which was mitigated by model‐based estimations. Our findings suggest that 5–8 consecutive, home‐based, measurements taken at a consistent time around noon, or alternatively within a limited time frame (e.g., 8.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. or 12.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.), will give rise to the most consistent blood pressure estimates. Blood pressure measurements likely do not represent a sufficiently accurate method for individual‐level dose selection, but may be valuable for population‐level dose identification. A user‐friendly tool has been made available to allow for interactive blood pressure simulations and estimations for the investigated scenarios.

Background Cardiovascular risk is increased in transgender persons using gender-affirming hormone therapy. To gain insight into the mechanism by which sex hormones affect cardiovascular risk in transgender persons, we investigated the effect of hormone therapy on markers of inflammation and hemostasis. Methods In this exploratory study, 48 trans women using estradiol patches plus cyproterone acetate (CPA) and 47 trans men using testosterone gel were included. They were between 18 and 50 years old and did not have a history of cardiovascular events. Measurements were performed before and after 3 and 12 months of hormone therapy. Results After 12 months, in trans women, systemic and endothelial inflammatory markers decreased (hs-CRP -66%, (95% CI -76; -53), VCAM-1–12%, (95% CI -16; -8)), while platelet activation markers increased (PF-4 +17%, (95% CI 4; 32), β-thromboglobulin +13%, (95% CI 2; 24)). The coagulation marker fibrinogen increased transiently, after 3 months (+15%, (95% CI 1; 32)). In trans men, hs-CRP increased (+71%, (95% CI 19; 145)); platelet activation and coagulation markers were not altered. In both trans women and trans men, leptin and adiponectin changed towards reference values of the experienced gender. Conclusions Platelet activation and coagulation marker concentrations increased in trans women using transdermal estradiol plus CPA, but not in trans men using testosterone. Also, concentrations of inflammatory markers decreased in trans women, while hs-CRP increased in trans men. Our results indicate that hormone therapy may affect hemostasis in transgender persons, which could be an underlying mechanism explaining the increased cardiovascular risk in this population.

Guidelines are undeniably of great value to practicing physicians, but there are also objections. Due to the multitude of guidelines, it is sometimes difficult to find the most appropriate and it is not always clear how well-founded recommendations are. In addition, guidelines can limit the freedom of action. Also, in individual patients - especially in the case of multimorbidity - recommendations from different guidelines can conflict with each other. Finally, drawing up guidelines takes a lot of time, which is at the expense of patient care, and conflicts of interest are difficult to avoid completely. It is therefore important to put the recommendations from guidelines into perspective: they are an aid to individual patient care, not a law. This perspective is also important in education, so that students are taught to use guidelines in a wise way. Finally, it is important to regularly evaluate recommendations and revise them if necessary.