Incidence of Hepatic Dysfunction Is Equivalent in Burn Patients Receiving Oxandrolone and Controls

Abstract

Oxandrolone has been shown to improve lean muscle mass in patients with burns. Hepatic dysfunction is a known side effect of treatment with oxandrolone. The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of hepatic dysfunction in our series of burn patients receiving oxandrolone. Fourteen patients who received oxandrolone (5 mg, n = 8; 10 mg, n = 6) were identified from our prospectively collected burn database. The records of 61 control patients also were reviewed. Demographics such as age, comorbidities, and burn size were recorded. The incidence of hepatic dysfunction was determined by the presence of abnormal liver function tests. The study and control groups were similar in age and burn size. Two of the eight (25%) oxandrolone patients receiving 5 mg and four of the six (67%) oxandrolone patients receiving 10 mg had evidence of hepatic dysfunction. Twenty six of the 61 (43%) control patients had evidence of hepatic dysfunction (P = NS). There appears no significant increased incidence of hepatic dysfunction in burn patients who received oxandrolone compared to those who did not.

A ’metabolic bundle‘ including Oxandrolone in optimising the metabolic status of severely burn injured patients: a retrospective analysis of the first 50 patients

“…Thus, therapeutic termination remained unnecessary in the absence of critical increases of hepatic enzymes. This corresponds to the lack of hepatic dysfunction found in a burns injured group treated with oxandrolone by McCullough et al [15] and Li’s metanalysis more recently [10]. Transitional changes in hepatic levels may therefore be considered as an indication of the injury severity and of possible complications as a consequence.…”

Impact of Oxandrolone Treatment on Acute Outcomes After Severe Burn Injury

“…Much has been written about the association between anabolic steroids and liver dysfunction. 11,19,21 Both Demling and Wolf documented increases in liver enzyme levels with oxandrolone treatment, but none of the patients in their studies went on to develop clinically significant dysfunction. The incidence of hepatic dysfunction in our study was actually lower in patients treated with oxandrolone.…”

“…Taken altogether, our results corroborate the overall safety of this medication in burn patients. 9,15,21 …”

Oxandrolone Treatment in Adults with Severe Thermal Injury

“…50 In a retrospective review of 14 adult patients in a burn intensive care unit who were treated with oxandrolone 5 or 10 mg twice/day, no significant difference was noted in hepatic dysfunction (assessed by any increase above baseline of serum AST, ALT, total and direct bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase concentrations) in patients treated with oxandrolone compared with a historical control group of patients who did not receive oxandrolone. 71 However, study limitations included the inconsistency in measuring and documenting liver function tests, retrospective design, and small sample size. Serum liver transaminase concentrations should be closely monitored during oxandrolone therapy.…”