Theresa A Stangl1, Chantal M Wiepjes1, Justine Defreyne2, Elfi Conemans1, Alessandra D Fisher3, Thomas Schreiner4, Guy T'Sjoen2, Martin den Heijer1. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 2. Department of Endocrinology, Centre for Sexology and Gender, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. 3. Department of Experimental, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. 4. Department of Endocrinology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Individuals with gender dysphoria can receive gender-affirming hormone therapy. Different guidelines mention a severe risk of liver injury within the first months after the start of treatment with anabolic androgenic steroids, anti-androgens, and oral contraceptives, which is potentially fatal. OBJECTIVE: The incidence of liver injury in a transgender population using gender-affirming hormone therapy. DESIGN: Multicentre prospective study with 1933 transgender individuals, who started with hormone therapy between 2010 and 2020. METHODS: The following parameters were analysed before hormone therapy, after 3 months, and after 12 months of hormone therapy: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). Both male and female reference values were considered. Liver injury was defined as either an elevation of 2× upper limit of normal (ULN) of ALP, 3× ULN of ALT, or 3× ULN of AST. RESULTS: 889 transgender women and 1044 transgender men were included in the analysis. The incidence of liver injury within 12 months after the start of hormone therapy, without attribution to alcohol abuse, medical history, or comedication was 0.1 and 0.0%. in transgender women according to female and male reference intervals respectively, and 0.6 and 0.4% in transgender men (female and male reference intervals). CONCLUSION: The incidence of liver injury is found to be very low. We, therefore, conclude that liver enzyme monitoring within the frame of the risk of liver injury due to hormone therapy is not necessary for a transgender population.
CONTEXT: Individuals with gender dysphoria can receive gender-affirming hormone therapy. Different guidelines mention a severe risk of liver injury within the first months after the start of treatment with anabolic androgenic steroids, anti-androgens, and oral contraceptives, which is potentially fatal. OBJECTIVE: The incidence of liver injury in a transgender population using gender-affirming hormone therapy. DESIGN: Multicentre prospective study with 1933 transgender individuals, who started with hormone therapy between 2010 and 2020. METHODS: The following parameters were analysed before hormone therapy, after 3 months, and after 12 months of hormone therapy: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). Both male and female reference values were considered. Liver injury was defined as either an elevation of 2× upper limit of normal (ULN) of ALP, 3× ULN of ALT, or 3× ULN of AST. RESULTS: 889 transgender women and 1044 transgender men were included in the analysis. The incidence of liver injury within 12 months after the start of hormone therapy, without attribution to alcohol abuse, medical history, or comedication was 0.1 and 0.0%. in transgender women according to female and male reference intervals respectively, and 0.6 and 0.4% in transgender men (female and male reference intervals). CONCLUSION: The incidence of liver injury is found to be very low. We, therefore, conclude that liver enzyme monitoring within the frame of the risk of liver injury due to hormone therapy is not necessary for a transgender population.
Authors: Carlotta Cocchetti; Alessia Romani; Sarah Collet; Yona Greenman; Thomas Schreiner; Chantal Wiepjes; Martin den Heijer; Guy T'Sjoen; Alessandra Daphne Fisher Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-03-24 Impact factor: 4.241
Authors: Ana Petrovic; Sonja Vukadin; Renata Sikora; Kristina Bojanic; Robert Smolic; Davor Plavec; George Y Wu; Martina Smolic Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2022-07-14 Impact factor: 5.374