Duration of Feminizing Hormone Therapy on Facial Fat Volumes

BACKGROUND

Gender-affirming feminizing hormone therapy induces body fat redistribution. However, the amount and timing of facial fat changes in response to feminizing hormone therapy are unknown, albeit relevant to counseling and surgical planning for facial gender-affirming surgery. In this work, we assessed the influence of feminizing hormone therapy duration on malar and temporal fat volume.

METHODS

Malar and temporal fat volumes were compared using computed tomography in transfeminine patients (age 20-29 years, body mass index [BMI] 18.5-24.9) treated with feminizing hormone therapy for <2 years versus ≥2 years. Patients with prior surgical or non-surgical facial soft-tissue interventions were excluded. Multivariable linear regressions evaluated the contribution of hormone therapy duration to malar and temporal fat volumes.

RESULTS

45 patients were included with 30 patients (66.7%) treated with feminizing hormone therapy for ≥2 years and 15 patients (33.3%) treated for <2 years (median[interquartile range, IQR]: 44.5[33.5-65.6] vs. 15.0[11.0-18.0] months, p<0.001). Patients treated with hormone therapy for ≥2 years demonstrated a 1.6-fold greater malar fat volume (5.5[4.2-6.3] vs. 3.4[2.3-4.2] cm 3,p<0.001) and 1.4-fold greater temporal fat volume (2.8[2.4-3.6] cm 3 vs. 2.0[1.7-2.4] cm 3, p=0.01) compared to those treated for <2 years. When accounting for other contributory variables such as BMI, skull size, and total soft-tissue depth in multivariable linear regression models, hormone therapy duration ≥2 years independently predicted higher malar (β=0.51, p<0.001) and temporal (β=0.32, p=0.02) fat volumes.

CONCLUSIONS

Feminizing hormone therapy increases malar and temporal fat volumes by approximately 2 cm 3 and 0.8 cm 3 for each area, respectively, after 2 years of treatment.

A Retrospective Analysis of Creatinine-Based Kidney Function With and Without Sex Assigned at Birth Among Transgender Adults

BACKGROUND

Clinicians use sex-based kidney function estimating equations, but the appropriate sex modifier for transgender adults undergoing hormone therapy (HT) is undetermined.

OBJECTIVES

Compare median estimated creatinine clearance (eCrCL; Cockcroft-Gault) and estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs; Modification of Diet in Renal Disease [MDRD] and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Study [CKD-EPI]) before and during HT when estimated with and without sex assigned at birth.

METHODS

Single-system retrospective cohort study of transgender adults (2007-2017) prescribed ≥90 days HT (index date = first order) and measured serum creatinine ≤6 months pre-index date (baseline) and ≤12 months post-index date. We grouped patients based on testosterone or estrogen treatment and compared eCrCL and eGFRs at baseline up to 6-12 months post-index date using equations based on sex assigned at birth (female or male modifier in testosterone or estrogen groups, respectively) or gender identity (male or female modifier in testosterone or estrogen groups, respectively). We used Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (Bonferroni correction) for all comparisons.

RESULTS

In total, 29 (median age 26 years, follow-up 259 days) and 41 patients (29 years, 250 days) were prescribed testosterone or estrogen, respectively. In the testosterone group, the maximum eCrCL and eGFR changes based on sex assigned at birth were -14%, P = 0.0181; -18%; P = 0.0009, respectively, and based on gender identity were +5%, P > 0.025 and +11%, P = 0.0094, respectively. In the estrogen group, eCrCL or eGFRs based on sex assigned at birth did not change from baseline but based on gender identity were -17%, P < 0.0001 and -26%, P < 0.0001, respectively.

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE

Female-based equations may underestimate kidney function in transgender adults undergoing testosterone or estrogen treatment. Prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm the clinical significance of these findings.