Changes in laboratory results in transgender individuals on hormone therapy: a retrospective study and practical approach
Authors' conclusion
Generating transgender-specific reference intervals is not essential to correctly interpret laboratory results. As a practical approach, we recommend to use the reference intervals of the affirmed gender from 1 year onwards after starting hormone therapy.
Study context
- Population
- Transgender individuals on gender-affirming hormone therapy; laboratory values pretreatment, during hormone therapy and after gonadectomy
- Participants
- 2,201 individuals
- Exposure
- Transgender women vs Transgender men
- Transgender womenn = 1,178
- Transgender menn = 1,023
- Outcome
- Most appropriate reference category (male or female) for laboratory parameters (Hb, Ht, ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, creatinine, prolactin) over the course of gender-affirming therapy
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Reference intervals · after 1 year on hormone therapy
- Reference intervals in transgender people after 1 year on hormone therapy resembled those of their affirmed gender
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Laboratory changes in transgender women · during gender-affirming therapy
- Hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Ht) decrease after initiation of hormone therapy
- ALT, AST and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) decrease; Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) does not change statistically significantly
- Creatinine decreases; prolactin rises
Laboratory changes in transgender men · during gender-affirming therapy
- Hb and Ht increase after starting hormone therapy
- Liver enzymes and creatinine increase statistically significantly
- Prolactin decreases
Original publication
Changes in laboratory results in transgender individuals on hormone therapy: a retrospective study and practical approach. Eur J Endocrinol. Published 24 May 2023. doi:10.
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