1154 MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN A TRANSGENDER FEMALE UNDERGOING HORMONE THERAPY: THE IMPACT PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO HORMONE THERAPY
Authors: Vigna Mariangela , Spinali Martina , Sorrentino Sabatino , Sportelli Martina , Bruno Federica , Panarello Alessandra , Aquila Iolanda , Polimeni Alberto , Mongiardo Annalisa , Indolfi Ciro 
Published: December 2022

Background

Gender Identity (GI) is defined by a complex interplay between biological, psychological, environmental, and cultural factors. Health care services provide counseling, hormone treatment, and gender-affirming surgery. Testosterone is used for cross-sex hormone therapy in female-to-male transgender persons. Previous evidence suggests that testosterone administration is associated with hypertension, decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL), increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and obesity, thus increasing cardiovascular risk.

Hereafter, we report the case of a patient female-to-male on testosterone therapy undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and stent implantation for acute myocardial infarction.

Case Description

A 44-year-old Italian transgender (female-to-male) without common cardiovascular risk factors and family risk was admitted to the local emergency room with a sudden onset of anterior chest pain. The electrocardiogram showed anterior ST-Segment Elevation, and accordingly, the patient was transferred to our Institution for emergency coronary angiography. Past medical history revealed breast reduction, osteosynthesis of the right femur, hemorrhoidal pathology, and iron deficiency anemia. Of interest, drug history revealed a hormonal therapy with intramuscular testosterone undecanoate over the from 2005 for gender conversion (250 mg every 3 weeks) and Tamoxifen 20 mg/die from 2006. The coronary angiography performed after 90 minutes to the symptom onset revealed a total occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) and minimal atherosclerosis of the remaining vessels. Recanalization of the LAD was achieved by pre-dilatations with a 2.5×15mm balloon catheter, showing diffuse atherosclerosis of the middle and distal LAD involving the origin of a diagonal branch (Medina 1,1,1). Then the lesion was treated with the implantation of three drug-eluting stents in overlap, followed by POBA (Plain Old Balloon Angioplast) of the diagonal branch with a 2.5×12 mm balloon at the ostium (Final TIMI flow III). The patient was then moved to the intensive care unit. Laboratory tests showed an altered lipid panel (overall cholesterol 210 mg/dl and LDL-cholesterol 153 mg/dl), elevated levels of cardiac enzymes (CK-MB 92.5 ng/ml, myoglobin 1606 ng/ml, TnT hs 1014 ng/L and NTproBNP 1263 pg/ml) and anaemia (Hb 9,1 mg/dl). The echocardiogram revealed akinesia of the apex with thrombotic formation (2.0×1.0 mm) and mid-distal anterior wall, with a 40% ejection fraction. Accordingly, parenteral anticoagulant was started. No further complications were observed the day after the procedure, with a progressive reduction of the miocardionecrosis enzymes and thrombotic formation. Ten days after, at the resolution of the thrombotic formation, the patient was discharged.

Discussion

This case report highlights the importance of primary prevention in patients undergoing long-term testosterone therapy for gender conversion, regardless of age and risk factors. For instance, prior evidence about the risk of recurrent ischemic events in these high-risk patients is poor with a high heterogeneity across the studies. Accordingly, high quality prospective and multicentric studies are needed to assess if there is a correlation between hormonal therapy for gender conversion and cardiovascular disease.