Bilateral non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy in a transsexual woman using excessive estrogen dosage

Arch Sex Behav. 2014 Feb;43(2):407-9. doi: 10.1007/s10508-013-0187-9. Epub 2013 Sep 21.

Abstract

We present a case report on a 53-year-old transsexual woman who developed acute painless vision loss in both eyes during cross-sex hormone treatment. After 10 months of cross-sex hormone treatment, she experienced total vision loss of the right eye and, 6 months later, vision loss to 20/63 in the left eye. After a full ophthalmic exam, bilateral sequential non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-ION) was diagnosed. Extensive etiological work-up revealed no cardiac abnormalities or inherited blood-clotting disorders. A manifest self-administered overdose of transdermal estrogen treatment with serum estradiol levels of 5,765 pg/ml was possibly related to the sequential bilateral NA-ION resulting in nearly total vision loss in this transsexual woman.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Estradiol / administration & dosage*
  • Estradiol / adverse effects
  • Estrogens / administration & dosage*
  • Estrogens / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / diagnosis*
  • Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / etiology
  • Transgender Persons / psychology
  • Transsexualism / drug therapy*
  • Transsexualism / psychology

Substances

  • Estrogens
  • Estradiol