Maturitas
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Whilst initial studies suggested HRT reduced the incidence of coronary heart disease, recent studies have suggested HRT increases cardiovascular risk. The route of HRT administration appears important with oral oestrogen significantly increasing levels of inflammatory markers and transdermal oestrogen causing no such changes. As the effects of the very high levels of oestrogen taken by male to female transsexuals are poorly understood this study has compared the changes occurring in circulating inflammatory markers following 6 months oral or transdermal oestrogen therapy. ⋯ Transsexual patients receiving oral oestrogen showed significant changes in inflammatory markers involved in the pathogenesis of vascular disease. No such changes were associated with transdermal oestrogen. Changes in two inflammatory markers were significantly greater than among patients receiving transdermal oestrogen.