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. 2017 Oct;9(10):872-878.
doi: 10.14740/jocmr3164w. Epub 2017 Sep 1.

Relationship Between Serum Total Testosterone Concentration and Augmentation Index at Radial Artery in Japanese Postmenopausal Patients

Takashi Hitsumoto  1
Affiliations

Relationship Between Serum Total Testosterone Concentration and Augmentation Index at Radial Artery in Japanese Postmenopausal Patients

Takashi Hitsumoto. J Clin Med Res. 2017 Oct.

Abstract

Background: The significance of testosterone as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in females is controversial. This cross-sectional study aimed to elucidate the relationship between serum total testosterone concentration (T-T) and augmentation index at the radial artery (r-AIx) as a marker of arterial function in Japanese postmenopausal patients.

Methods: A total of 447 postmenopausal patients with traditional cardiovascular risk factors and/or a history of CVD (age (mean ± standard deviation (SD)), 73 ± 10 years) were enrolled. r-AIx was measured using tonometry, and the association between r-AIx and various clinical parameters, including T-T, was determined.

Results: r-AIx significantly increased (CVD vs. non-CVD: 99±11% vs. 91±11%, P < 0.001) and T-T significantly decreased (CVD vs. non-CVD: 0.31 ± 0.13 ng/mL vs. 0.49 ± 0.23 ng/mL, P < 0.001) in patients with CVD than in those without CVD. A significant negative correlation (r = -0.48; P < 0.001) between r-AIx and T-T was observed. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis indicated that T-T (t value = -7.7; P < 0.001), height (t value = -5.3; P < 0.001), d-ROMs test as a marker of oxidative stress in vivo (t value = 3.2; P < 0.001), CVD (t value = 2.9; P < 0.01), and pulse rate (t value = -2.7; P < 0.01) were independent variables for r-AIx as a subordinate factor.

Conclusion: This study revealed that low T-T is an important determining factor for an increase in r-AIx in Japanese postmenopausal patients. A prospective multicenter study with a large sample size is required to confirm the results of this study.

Keywords: Augmentation index; Cardiovascular disease; Female; Oxidative stress; Testosterone.

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Conflict of interest statement

Author has no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparisons of r-AIx or T-T between non-CVD and CVD patients. r-AIx significantly increased (CVD vs. non-CVD: 99±11% vs. 91±11%, P < 0.001) and T-T significantly decreased (CVD vs. non-CVD: 0.31 ± 0.13 ng/mL vs. 0.49 ± 0.23 ng/mL, P < 0.001) in CVD patients than in non-CVD patients. r-AIx: radial augmentation index; T-T: serum total testosterone concentration; CVD: cardiovascular disease. *P < 0.001 vs. non-CVD.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The association between r-AIx and T-T. A significant negative correlation between r-AIx and T-T (r = -0.48, P < 0.001) was observed. r-AIx: radial augmentation index; T-T: serum total testosterone concentration.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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