Thrombosis in three postmenopausal women receiving testosterone therapy for low libido

Womens Health (Lond). 2013 Jul;9(4):405-10. doi: 10.2217/whe.13.31.

Abstract

Our hypothesis was that thrombosis occurring in postmenopausal women given testosterone (T) or testosterone-estradiol (TE) to improve libido was associated with a prothrombotic interaction between T or TE with underlying inherited procoagulants. In three previously healthy, postmenopausal, Caucasian women with no antecedent thrombosis and previously undiagnosed G20210A prothrombin gene heterozygosity, hyperhomocysteinemia and 4G4G homozygosity of the PAI-1 gene, we describe central retinal vein thrombosis and osteonecrosis that developed at 16 days, 2 months and 11 months in the three cases, respectively, after T or TE therapy was started. Exogenous T or TE in postmenopausal women may be associated with thrombosis, speculatively when it is superimposed on underlying procoagulants. This small observational case series can serve as a starting point for a larger observational study with greater detail on patient history, serum T and estradiol levels, and detailed PCR and serologic assessment of thrombophilia and hypofibrinolysis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Estradiol / adverse effects
  • Estradiol / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / adverse effects*
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / pharmacology
  • Hip Joint
  • Humans
  • Libido / drug effects
  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / genetics
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteonecrosis / chemically induced*
  • Osteonecrosis / genetics
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / genetics
  • Postmenopause
  • Prothrombin / genetics
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion / chemically induced*
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion / genetics
  • Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / drug therapy
  • Testosterone / adverse effects*
  • Testosterone / pharmacology
  • Thrombosis / chemically induced
  • Thrombosis / genetics

Substances

  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1
  • Testosterone
  • Estradiol
  • Prothrombin
  • MTHFR protein, human
  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)