Testosterone replacement therapy and polycythemia in HIV-infected patients
Open accessAbstract
We conducted a case-control study to assess testosterone use as a primary risk factor for polycythemia in 21 HIV-infected men. Any testosterone use within 2 months of first elevated hemoglobin was associated with polycythemia (matched odds ratio 6.55; 95% confidence interval 1.83-23.4; P = 0.004) and intramuscular administration demonstrated a stronger association than topical use. No adverse cardiovascular or thrombotic events were observed. HIV-infected patients taking testosterone should undergo routine hematologic monitoring with adjustment of therapy when appropriate.
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The overall impact of varying formulations on hypogonadal symptoms and adverse events is poorly described, with limited data showing higher rates of erythrocytosis among therapies achieving higher peak testosterone levels.
“The overall impact of the varying formulations on hypogonadal symptoms and AEs is poorly described, with limited data demonstrating higher rates of erythrocytosis noted among therapies achieving higher peak T levels.136, 137”
From Challenges in Testosterone Measurement, Data Interpretation, and Methodological Appraisal of Interventional Trials (2016) · cites this paper as [137]
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- Authors
- Vorkas, C. K., Vaamonde, C. M., & Glesby, M. J.
- Affiliations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- Corresponding author
- Glesby, Marshall J.
- Venue
- AIDS
- Published
- 2012-01-14
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 243-245
- ISSN
- 0269-9370 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3670149
- OpenAlex
- W2010038443
- Cited by
- 11
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 0.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- AIDS (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Pfizer
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (K24AI078884)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Emergency Medicine › HIV-related health complications and treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Erythropoietin and Anemia Treatment
- Keywords
- testosterone replacement therapy, polycythemia, HIV infection, elevated hemoglobin, intramuscular testosterone, topical testosterone, hematological monitoring, thrombotic complications, cardiovascular events
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Cutaneous, Androgens, Hemoglobins, HIV Seropositivity, Humans, Hypogonadism, Injections, Intramuscular, Male, Middle Aged, Polycythemia, Retrospective Studies, Testosterone, Time Factors, Odds Ratio, Case-Control Studies, Risk Assessment, Hormone Replacement Therapy
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