Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) is an important therapy for many men. In fact, higher levels of testosterone appear to be associated with lower mortality.1,2 Men often feel better with testosterone replacement as well. However, there are some potential complications with which potential testosterone recipients must be familiar. One of these complications is an elevation in red blood cell volume known as Secondary Polycythemia. This article may help shed some light on the impact of secondary polycythemia due to testosterone replacement.
Secondary Polycythemia in Men Receiving Testosterone Therapy Increases Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and Venous Thromboembolism in the First Year of Therapy
This article was published in 2022 in the Journal of Urology. The authors stated that “An unsafe hematocrit threshold for men receiving testosterone therapy (TT) has never been tested” so they set out to answer the question. Specifically, they wanted to know if men on testosterone replacement therapy
References:
- Khaw KT. et al. Endogenous testosterone and mortality due to all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in men. Circulation. 2007;116:2694-2701
- Shores MM. et al. Testosterone Treatment and Mortality in Men with Low Testosterone Levels. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Apr
- Ory J, Nackeeran S, Balaji N, Hare J, Ramasamy R. Secondary Polycythemia in Men Receiving Testosterone Therapy Increases Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and Venous Thromboembolism in the First Year of Therapy. J Urol. 2022 Jun;207(6):1295-1301.doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000002437. Epub 2022 Jan 20.
