Journal article
Reference Intervals for Clinical Chemistry Analytes for Transgender Men and Women on Stable Hormone Therapy
The journal of applied laboratory medicine, Vol.7(5), pp.1131-1144
05/18/2022
DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfac025
PMID: 35584132
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Gender-affirming hormone therapy with either estradiol or testosterone is commonly prescribed for transgender individuals. Masculinizing or feminizing hormone therapy may impact clinical chemistry analytes, but there is currently a lack of published reference intervals for the transgender population.
Methods
Healthy transgender and nonbinary individuals who had been prescribed either estradiol (n = 93) or testosterone (n = 82) for at least 12 months were recruited from primary care and internal medicine clinics specializing in transgender medical care. Electrolytes, creatinine, urea nitrogen, enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, ALK; alanine aminotransferase, ALT; aspartate aminotransferase, AST; gamma-glutamyltransferase, GGT), hemoglobin A1c, lipids [total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides], and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured on 2 clinical chemistry platforms. Reference intervals (central 95%) were calculated according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines.
Results
There was minimal impact of gender-affirming hormone therapy on electrolytes, urea nitrogen, hemoglobin A1c, and hsCRP. In general, the enzymes studied shifted toward affirmed gender. Creatinine values for both transgender cohorts overlaid the reference interval for cisgender men, with no shift toward affirmed gender for the estradiol cohort. The effects on lipids were complex, but with a clear shift to lower HDL values in the testosterone cohort relative to cisgender women.
Conclusions
Transgender individuals receiving either masculinizing or feminizing hormone therapy showed significant changes in some analytes that have sex-specific variation in the cisgender population. The clearest shifts toward affirmed gender were seen with enzymes for the estradiol and testosterone cohorts and with creatinine and HDL in the testosterone cohort.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Reference Intervals for Clinical Chemistry Analytes for Transgender Men and Women on Stable Hormone Therapy
- Creators
- Robert M Humble - Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IADina N Greene - University of WashingtonRobert L Schmidt - University of UtahGabrielle Winston McPherson - University of WashingtonJessica Rongitsch - Capitol Hill Medical, Seattle, WAKatherine L Imborek - University of IowaNicole Nisly - University of IowaNancy J Dole - Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IASusan K Dane - University of IowaJanice Frerichs - Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IAMatthew D Krasowski - University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The journal of applied laboratory medicine, Vol.7(5), pp.1131-1144
- DOI
- 10.1093/jalm/jfac025
- PMID
- 35584132
- NLM abbreviation
- J Appl Lab Med
- ISSN
- 2475-7241
- eISSN
- 2475-7241
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/18/2022
- Academic Unit
- Pathology; Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies; Family and Community Medicine; General Internal Medicine; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984297453802771
Metrics
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