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Effects of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy Among Transgender Women

Effects of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy Among Transgender Women

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04128488
Enrollment
33
Registered
2019-10-16
Start date
2019-11-01
Completion date
2024-03-28
Last updated
2025-05-18

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cardiovascular Diseases, Coagulopathy, HIV/AIDS, Metabolic Disease, Transgender Women

Brief summary

In this study, investigators plan to evaluate the cardiometabolic effects of initiating gender-affirming hormone therapy among transgender women with and without HIV. As part of this study, participants will undergo cardiovascular and metabolic phenotyping within 3 months of starting and after 12 months of gender-affirming hormone therapy. Cardiovascular phenotyping will include cardiac MRI/MRS imaging to evaluate cardiac function and structure. Metabolic phenotyping will include oral glucose tolerance testing, abdominal MR imaging to evaluate visceral adiposity, and whole body, lumbar, and hip DEXA imaging to evaluate fat and lean body mass as well as bone mineral density, respectively. Traditional markers of CVD risk as well as immune, hormonal, and coagulation parameters will also be assessed longitudinally.

Interventions

OTHERAbdominal MR Imaging

Imaging to evaluate visceral adipose tissue and hepatic lipid content

Imaging to evaluate cardiac function and structure

Blood testing to evaluate changes in glucose and insulin in response to oral glucose load

OTHERWhole Body, Lumbar Spine, and Hip DEXA Imaging

Imaging to evaluate fat and lean body mass as well as bone mineral density

Sponsors

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
CollaboratorNIH
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
CollaboratorNIH
American Heart Association
CollaboratorOTHER
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
CollaboratorOTHER
Massachusetts General Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
16 Years to 99 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* transgender women or non-binary individual * age ≥16 * For women with HIV only: on ART therapy for ≥3 months * initiation of testosterone suppression with spironolactone or leuprolide and estrogen therapy with oral 17-β estradiol, transdermal 17β estradiol, sublingual estradiol, intramuscular estradiol, or subcutaneous estradiol by medical provider

Exclusion criteria

* For women with HIV only: CD4 count\<50 * history of CAD, ACS, ASCVD risk score ≥ 7.5%, LDL-C ≥ 190, or angina (e.g. current indication for statin use) * history of heart failure * history of diabetes * eGFR \< 30 ml/min/1.73m2 * standard contraindication to MRI, including history of severe allergy to gadolinium or Dotarem * prior orchiectomy * gender-affirming hormone therapy for greater than 5 months directly prior to enrollment * current or past anti-platelet therapy or anti-coagulant therapy within the last 6 months •current or past statin therapy within the last 6 months * concurrent enrollment in conflicting research study

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Change in Visceral Adipose TissueBaseline and 12 months

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Change in Diastolic Function on Cardiac MRIBaseline and 12 months
Change in Myocardial Fibrosis on Cardiac MRIBaseline and 12 months
Change in Glucose and Insulin Parameters on Oral Glucose Tolerance TestingBaseline and 12 months
Change in Intramyocardial Triglyceride Content on Cardiac MRSBaseline and 12 months
Change in Hormonal ParametersBaseline and 12 months
Change in Coagulation ParametersBaseline and 12 months
Change in hepatic lipid contentBaseline and 12 months
Change in Bone DensityBaseline and 12 months

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026