Journal article
Common Hormone Therapies Used to Care for Transgender Patients Influence Laboratory Results
The journal of applied laboratory medicine, Vol.3(5), pp.799-814
03/01/2019
DOI: 10.1373/jalm.2018.027078
Abstract
Abstract Background Many laboratory tests are reported and interpreted with sex-specific reference intervals. However, transgender individuals receiving masculinizing or feminizing hormone therapy experience physiological changes predisposing some laboratory tests to shift outside of existing reference intervals. In this study, we review laboratory testing of a large cohort of transgender individuals who were prescribed hormone therapy for at least 6 months at an academic medical center. Methods Transgender patients were identified using a search function within the electronic health record with gender identity status verified by chart review. Patients were grouped based on type of hormone therapy administered. All laboratory studies were ordered for medical purposes as part of clinical care; as a result, the exact laboratory tests differed among the patients. Some of the patients had sufficient data for both 6- and 12-month comparisons with baseline laboratory values. Results Statistically significant changes were observed at 6- and 12-month comparisons in basic chemistry, endocrine, and hematologic parameters for transgender individuals receiving masculinizing or feminizing hormones. Chart review demonstrated variation in route of administration of hormone therapy and frequency of gender-affirming surgery within the study population. Conclusions Transgender individuals receiving hormone therapy experienced significant changes in components of basic chemistry, endocrine, and hematologic parameters following administration of hormone therapy. Variability in hormone dosing and route of administration for gender-affirming treatment warrants further investigation.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Common Hormone Therapies Used to Care for Transgender Patients Influence Laboratory Results
- Creators
- Robert M Humble - Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IAKatherine L Imborek - Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IANicole Nisly - Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IADina N Greene - Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WAMatthew D Krasowski - Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The journal of applied laboratory medicine, Vol.3(5), pp.799-814
- DOI
- 10.1373/jalm.2018.027078
- ISSN
- 2576-9456
- eISSN
- 2475-7241
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/01/2019
- Academic Unit
- Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies; Family Medicine; Internal Medicine; Pathology; General Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984047673702771
Metrics
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