Vascular phenotype of boys with suspected hypogonadism (GO-VASC)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Vascular phenotype of boys with suspected hypogonadism (GO-VASC)
IRAS ID
219529
Contact name
Angela Lucas-Herald
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 15 days
Research summary
Research Summary:
The Fetal Origins of Adult Disease (FOAD) hypothesis suggests that early life influences predict adult cardiovascular disease (Skogen et al., 2014). Cardiovascular diseases remain the commonest causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early identification of potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease allows for the introduction of prevention and early intervention strategies to mitigate this risk.
Studies have shown that in older men, low testosterone levels or hypogonadism has an adverse effect on several cardiovascular risk factors(Makhsida et al., 2006). Hypogonadism can be a transient physiological phenomenon during adolescence but it is also one of the commonest permanent endocrine conditions in childhood that requires active management throughout adulthood (Bertelloni et al., 2010). Given the known association between low testosterone levels and increased cardiometabolic risk in adult men, there is a need to study this association in children with early onset hypogonadism.
Advances in non-invasive ultrasound assessment have allowed the detection of pre-clinical disease in adults with low testosterone levels (Donald et al., 2010). Studies have also investigated atherosclerosis in young people and have demonstrated that atherosclerotic lesions are present in 1 in 6 ‘healthy’ adolescents (Tuzcu et al., 2001). To date however, in young people with hypogonadism and delayed puberty, there is scarce information on this association and it is unclear whether androgen replacement alters this. This study aims to use non invasive ultrasound techniques to investigate the relationship between delayed puberty, hypogonadism and early evidence of cardiovascular risk.If early onset hypogonadism does result in vascular dysfunction, it is essential that affected boys and men, as well as health professionals, are aware of this risk, in order to allow them the opportunity to consider preventative strategies. This study therefore would provide extensive and important information on the vascular phenotype of boys at a young age, which is relevant to the FOAD hypothesis.
Summary of results:
The study demonstrated that adolescents with a median age of 12 years born with hypospadias have evidence of high blood pressure and increased fat in their carotid arteries compared to boys who are healthy and were not born with hypospadias. Overall we show for the first time that there is a link between hypospadias and early heart and blood vessel disease. This should be a focus for further research to help to prevent future cardiovasular disease.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
17/WS/0063
Date of REC Opinion
21 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion