12434 History Of Surgical Menopause Is Associated With An Accelerated “Adrenal Aging” In Menopausal Women
Authors: Saini Jasmine , Nathani Rohit , Larson Joseph , Fell Vanessa , Bancos Irina 
Published: October 2024

Disclosure: J. Saini: None. R. Nathani: None. J. Larson: None. V. Fell: None. I. Bancos: None.

Background: Surgical menopause due to bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) at a younger age is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and increased mortality. Aging is associated with abnormalities in steroid metabolome, most notably an increased glucocorticoid to androgen ratio (“adrenal aging”). We hypothesized that in postmenopausal women of the same age, the duration of menopause is associated with adrenal aging. Objective: To determine the differences in the adrenal steroid metabolome of women with a history of BSO as compared to age-matched women following natural menopause. Methods: We conducted a single-center cross-sectional study in postmenopausal women with or without a history of BSO, between December 2020 to December 2022 Each participant collected 24-hour urine, which was analyzed for steroid profiling by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (25 steroids). Exclusion criteria were inability to collect a 24h urine sample, exogenous glucocorticoid use, advanced malignancy, and chronic opioid use. Primary endpoints were glucocorticoid/androgen ratio, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 activity (cortisol/cortisone, Tetrahydrocortisol (THF) + 5 α-tetrahydrocortisol (5 α-THF)/ Tetrahydrocortisone, THE) and 5 α-reductase type activity (Tetrahydrocortisol (THF)/5 α-tetrahydrocortisol (5 α-THF) and Etiocholanolone/Androsterone, Et/An). Results: A total of 245 women were enrolled: 124 women (median age of 66 years, IQR 63-72) with a history of BSO and 121 women (median age of 68 years, IQR 64-71) who underwent natural menopause (P=0.214). Median age at menopause was 44 years (IQR 41-46) in the BSO group, and 50 years (IQR 48-53) in the natural menopause group. History of hormone replacement therapy with estrogen was reported in 161 (66%) women, more frequently (92% vs 39%, P&lt;0.001) and for a longer duration (median 12 years (IQR 6-16) vs 6 years (IQR 3-9), P&lt;0.001) in in the BSO group, as compared to the natural menopause group. Although both groups had similar levels of urinary androgens (median 1387 vs 1686 mcg/24h, P=0.063) and total glucocorticoids (median 10877 vs 10277 mcg/24h, P=0.354), women with a history of BSO demonstrated a higher glucocorticoid/androgen ratio (median 7.9 (IQR 5.0-11.1) vs 6.7 (4.3-9.9), P=0.014), and a lower Et/An ratio (median 1.4 vs 1.6, P=0.045), but not THF/5aTHF ratio (median 1.7 vs 1.8, P=0.380) in comparison to women with natural menopause. No differences were found in other ratios. Conclusion: Women with a history of BSO demonstrated a higher glucocorticoid/androgen ratio in comparison to women undergoing natural menopause, suggestive of BSO-induced accelerated “adrenal aging”. Future studies need to examine associations between the abnormal steroid metabolome and increased cardiovascular morbidity, frailty, and mortality reported following BSO.

Presentation: 6/3/2024