The Role of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone in Vascular Dysfunction Observed in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients

Abstract

Background: Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) who receive a hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) are at increased risk for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) abnormalities, which may have a substantial negative impact on vascular function. This study's purpose was to examine the association of vascular function with FSH and LH in HCT recipients, non-HCT recipients and healthy controls. Procedures: The study included CCS who were HCT recipients (n=24) and non-HCT recipients (n=308), and a control group of healthy siblings (n=211) all aged between 9-18 years. Vascular measures of carotid artery structure and function (compliance and distensibility), brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and