Gonadal steroids, gonadotropins and DHEAS in young adults with familial hypercholesterolemia who had initiated statin therapy in childhood.

Marjet J A M Braamskamp, D Meeike Kusters, Albert Wiegman, Hans J Avis, Frits A Wijburg, John J P Kastelein, A S Paul van Trotsenburg, Barbara A Hutten

Journal: Atherosclerosis 2016;241(2):427-32

PMID: 26079405

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

Statins are currently the preferred pharmacological therapy in children with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) with the aim to prevent premature cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, concerns have been raised that lowering cholesterol levels with statins could interfere with hormone production. In this study hormone concentrations were assessed in young adult FH subjects before and 10 years after the initiation of statins, and compared with their unaffected siblings.

METHODS

All 214 FH children (8-18 years) who were previously randomized into a placebo-controlled trial evaluating the 2-year efficacy and safety of pravastatin, and their 95 unaffected siblings, were eligible. Women using oral contraceptives were excluded. Fasted blood samples were taken to measure lipids and testosterone (males), estradiol (females), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and dehydroepiandosterone (DHEAS).

RESULTS

After ten years, gonadal steroid and gonadotropin concentrations were within the reference interval and did not differ between FH subjects (n = 88) and unaffected siblings (n = 62). Mean DHEAS concentrations (±standard deviation) in the FH subjects and female siblings were normally distributed within the reference interval, whereas male siblings had a higher mean DHEAS concentration than their FH brothers (12.9 [± 4.9] vs. 8.4 [± 3.0] μmol/L, respectively, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

After ten years of statin treatment, testosterone, estradiol, LH and FSH concentrations in young adult FH patients are within the reference interval and comparable to their unaffected siblings. These results strengthen current guidelines that statins in FH subjects could be safely used from childhood onwards to prevent premature CVD.

Address: Departments of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Pediatrics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: [email protected].; Departments of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Pediatrics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.; Pediatrics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.; Departments of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.; Pediatric Endocrinology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.; Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2015.05.034

Link outs

Free resources

Medical:

https://medlineplus.gov/cholesterolmedicines.html

Miscellaneous:

https://assays.cancer.gov/non-CPTAC-3579

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

MeSH Terms: Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Biomarkers, Child, Dehydroepiandrosterone, Double-Blind Method, Estradiol, Female, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human, Gonadal Steroid Hormones, Gonadotropins, Pituitary, Humans, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors, Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II, Lipids, Luteinizing Hormone, Male, Netherlands, Pravastatin, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Testosterone, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult