Testosterone therapy-induced erythrocytosis: can phlebotomy be justified?

Erythrocytosis, or elevated hematocrit, is a common side effect of testosterone therapy (TTh) in male hypogonadism. Testosterone stimulates erythropoiesis through an initial rise in erythropoietin (EPO), the establishment of a new EPO/hemoglobin 'set point', and a parallel decrease in the master iron regulator protein hepcidin, as well as several other potential mechanisms. Evidence shows an increased thrombotic risk associated with TTh-induced erythrocytosis. Several guidelines by endocrine organizations for the treatment of male hypogonadism recommend against starting TTh in patients presenting with elevated hematocrit at baseline or stopping TTh when its levels cannot be controlled. Besides dose adjustments, therapeutic phlebotomy or venesection is mentioned as a means of reducing hematocrit in these patients. However, evidence supporting the efficacy or safety of therapeutic phlebotomy in lowering hematocrit in TTh-induced erythrocytosis is lacking. In light of this dearth of evidence, the recommendation to lower hematocrit using therapeutic phlebotomy is notable, as phlebotomy lowers tissue oxygen partial pressure (pO2) and eventually depletes iron stores, thereby triggering various biological pathways which might increase thrombotic risk. The potential pros and cons should therefore be carefully weighed against each other, and shared decision-making is recommended for initiating therapeutic phlebotomy as a treatment in patients on TTh who present with increased hematocrit.