Evaluation of living liver donors identifying as transgender or gender diverse

Tzu-Hao Lee; Thanh Nguyen; Rita S Lee; Whitney E Jackson; North American Living Liver Donor Innovation Group (NALLDIG)

doi:10.1097/LVT.0000000000000712

Evaluation of living liver donors identifying as transgender or gender diverse

Liver Transpl. 2026 Apr 1;32(4):620-626. doi: 10.1097/LVT.0000000000000712. Epub 2025 Aug 22.

Authors

Tzu-Hao Lee^{1

2}, Thanh Nguyen³, Rita S Lee^{4

5}, Whitney E Jackson^{6

7}; North American Living Liver Donor Innovation Group (NALLDIG)

Collaborators

North American Living Liver Donor Innovation Group (NALLDIG):
Baylor-Dallas, G Testa, A Gupta, S Lee, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Z Fricker, M Dib, Cleveland Clinic, K Hashimoto, D Kwon, Columbia University, J Emond, A Fox, J Hawksworth, Cornell University, B Samstein, R Brown, R Rosenblatt, Indiana University, A Kubal, Intermountain Healthcare/Primary Children's Hospital, R Gilroy, J Botha, Jefferson Medical Center, D Tholey, Johns Hopkins, E King, Mayo Clinic, J Heimbach, T Taner, K Watt, Montefiore Medical Center, B Fortune, K Chacko, D Von Ahrens, Mount Sinai School Of Medicine, S Florman, T Schiano, New York University, A Liapakis, A Griesemer, B Orandi, Northwestern University, J Caicedo, Z Dietch, D Ganger, A Duarte-Rojo, Duke Medical Center, K Ravindra, M Kappus, Stanford University, M Melcher, V Kirchner, Tufts Medical Center, A Kaplan, Massachusetts General Hospital, I Bhan, University Of Alberta, B Anderson, J Shapiro, University Of Toronto, N Selzner, A Ghanekar, University Of California-San Francisco, J Roberts, S Syed, University Of Chicago, A Pillai, D DiSabato, University Of Colorado, E Pomfret, W Jackson, University Of Maryland, D Maluf, University Of Michigan, C Sonnenday, P Bloom, University Of Minnesota, S Chinnakotla, E Aby, University Of Pennsylvania/Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia, K Olthoff, S Abu-Gazala, T Bittermann, P Abt, University Of Pittsburgh, S Biggins, A Humar, S Ganesh, K Bhamba, Ut-Southwestern, M Patel, M Pedersen, University Of Rochester, R Hernandez-Alejandro, K Tomiyama, N Lim, University Of Southern California/Children's Hospital-Los Angeles, J Emamaullee, N Kaur, H Han, M Sturdevant, University Of Texas-San Antonio, T Klair, J Cullen, University Of Utah, T Baker, R Kim, G Wiser, University Of Virginia, N Goldaracena, University Of Wisconsin, J Garonzik-Wang, D Al-Adra, Vanderbilt University, M Montenovo, M Rizzari, Yale University, S Rubman, R Batra, J Batisti

Affiliations

¹ Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
² Division of Abdominal Transplant, Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
³ Department of Medicine, Highland Hospital, Oakland, California, USA.
⁴ Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
⁵ Health Equity in Action Lab (HEAL), Office of Access and Engagement, Center for Health Equity, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
⁶ Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
⁷ Colorado Center for Transplantation Care, Research and Education (CCTCARE), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.

PMID: 40844405
DOI: 10.1097/LVT.0000000000000712

Abstract

Transgender and gender diverse individuals face barriers to accessing equitable healthcare. As the liver transplant community works to expand and standardize the living donor evaluation, it is imperative that we consider the unique risk stratification considerations for this marginalized population. Herein, we review the nuances unique to psychosocial and medical considerations, including gender-affirming hormone therapy and perioperative management, with a focus on creating an inclusive environment.

Keywords: gender affirming hormone therapy; living donor liver transplantation; transgender liver donor.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Donor Selection* / methods
Donor Selection* / standards
Female
Health Services Accessibility
Hepatectomy* / adverse effects
Humans
Liver Transplantation* / adverse effects
Liver Transplantation* / methods
Living Donors* / psychology
Male
Risk Assessment
Transgender Persons* / psychology