Occurrence of Pulmonary Oil Microembolism After Testosterone Undecanoate Injection: A Postmarketing Safety Analysis

Background: The Aveed Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy program was instituted because of potential risk of pulmonary oil microembolism (POME) and/or anaphylaxis after intramuscular injection of Aveed (testosterone undecanoate), indicated for treatment of adult male patients with congenital or acquired primary hypogonadism or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

Aim: To analyze the reporting rate of POME associated with testosterone undecanoate administration (750 mg/3 mL) during postmarketing surveillance.

Methods: The Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc database was searched for POME reports occurring from testosterone undecanoate approval on March 5, 2014, through June 30, 2018. Each case was reviewed and adjudicated by a drug safety physician to confirm the reported event had predefined clinical characteristics consistent with POME.

Outcomes: Annual rate and clinical features of spontaneously reported POME cases were characterized.

Results: During the 4.3-year period, 90,092 doses of intramuscular testosterone undecanoate were distributed via an Aveed Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy program to health-care professionals for patient treatment. Of 633 individual case safety reports in the Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc safety database, 28 spontaneously reported adverse events were classified as POME, for a yearly spontaneously reported adverse event per-injection rate of <0.1%. Most (21/22) events resolved, and of those with a resolution time reported, most (13/17) resolved in ≤30 minutes. More than 60% (13/21) of patients required no medical intervention (ie, the POME event resolved spontaneously). One fatality was reported 18 months after a documented POME event and appeared unrelated to the reported testosterone undecanoate injection or subsequent injections after the POME event. In 3 out of 4 POME cases with symptoms serious enough to require an emergency room visit, issues with injection technique or dosing were identified as a potential contributing factor.

Clinical implications: Injection technique and proper product usage are key elements in the prevention of POME events.

Strengths & limitations: The reported rate of POME events was determined from a real-world clinical practice patient population; however, postmarketing safety data typically are underreported and retrospective in nature.

Conclusion: POME events appear to be rare, with resolution occurring quickly without medical intervention in most cases. Pastuszak AW, Hu Y, Freid JD. Occurrence of Pulmonary Oil Microembolism After Testosterone Undecanoate Injection: A Postmarketing Safety Analysis. Sex Med 2020;8:237-242.