Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32810277›Full record

ReviewThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism2021

Approach to Interpreting Common Laboratory Pathology Tests in Transgender Individuals.

Ada S Cheung, Hui Yin Lim, Teddy Cook, Sav Zwickl, Ariel Ginger, Cherie Chiang, Jeffrey D Zajac

Open access · hybridAbstract readCase ReportsReview
In one paragraph

Review in The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 28 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
28citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
6.0field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

28 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 52 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Guideline
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Trial
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Interpretating Normal Values and Reference Ranges for Laboratory Tests.Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM · 2025
    Review
  9. Article
  10. How to optimize and evaluate diversity in gynecologic cancer clinical trials: statements from the GCIG Barcelona Meeting.International journal of gynecological cancer : official journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society · 2024
    Article
  11. Article
  12. Review
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. The Impact of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Physical Performance.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2024
    Review
  17. Review
  18. Management of transgender patients in critical care.Journal of the Intensive Care Society · 2023
    Article
  19. Article
  20. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Ada S CheungTrans Health Research group, Department of Medicine (Austin Health), The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Hui Yin LimDiagnostics Haematology, Northern Pathology Victoria, Northern Health, Victoria, Australia.
Teddy CookACON Health, Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia.
Sav ZwicklTrans Health Research group, Department of Medicine (Austin Health), The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Ariel GingerTrans Health Research group, Department of Medicine (Austin Health), The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Cherie ChiangDepartment of Endocrinology, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
Jeffrey D ZajacTrans Health Research group, Department of Medicine (Austin Health), The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
The University of Melbourne · AUNepean Hospital · AUNorthern Health · AUThe Royal Melbourne Hospital · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

contextAs the number of transgender (trans) people (including those who are binary and/or nonbinary identified) seeking gender-affirming hormone therapy rises, endocrinologists are increasingly asked to assist with interpretation of laboratory tests. Many common laboratory tests such as hemoglobin, iron studies, cardiac troponin, and creatinine are affected by sex steroids or body size. We seek to provide a summary of the impact of feminizing and masculinizing hormone therapy on common laboratory tests and an approach to interpretation. CASES: Case scenarios discussed include 1) hemoglobin and hematocrit in a nonbinary person undergoing masculinizing hormone therapy; 2) estimation of glomerular filtration rate in a trans woman at risk of contrast-induced nephropathy; 3) prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in a trans woman; and 4) chest pain in a trans man with a cardiac troponin concentration between the reported male and female reference ranges.

conclusionsThe influence of exogenous gender-affirming hormone therapy on fat and muscle distribution and other physiological changes determines interpretation of laboratory tests that have sex-specific differences. In addition to affirmative practice to ensure a patient's name, gender, and pronoun are used appropriately, we propose that once individuals have commenced gender-affirming hormone therapy, the reference range of the affirmed gender be reported (and specified by treating clinicians) except for PSA or cardiac troponin, which are dependent on organ size. While suggestions may be challenging to implement, they also represent an opportunity to lead best practice to improve the quality of care and experiences of healthcare for all trans people.

Indexed as

Clinical Laboratory TechniquesTranssexualismAdultAgedArtifactsDiagnosis, DifferentialDiagnostic Techniques, EndocrineFemaleGender-Affirming ProceduresHeart Function TestsHormone Replacement TherapyHumansKidney Function TestsMaleMiddle AgedReference Valuesbiochemistrykidney function testspathologytransgender personstroponin

Identifiers

PMID32810277
PMCPMC7947878
OpenAlexW3077752095

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.