title: Male hypogonadism of uremic patients on hemodialysis.
abstract: Primary hypogonadism occurring among uremic men on hemodialysis has been widely investigated, yet few data are available concerning the general pattern of steroidogenesis. In 161 hemodialysis patients and in 83 healthy subjects, serum levels of gonadotropins (LH and FSH), prolactin (PRL), testosterone (T), androstenedione (A), estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) were assessed through RIA methods. Mean +/- SD hormone levels were: LH 45.6 +/- 41.1 mIU/ml, FSH 16.3 +/- 16 mIU/ml, PRL 42.4 +/- 69.1 ng/ml, A 0.83 +/- 0.27 ng/ml, E1 64.3 +/- 31.7 pg/ml, all higher than controls; T 289 +/- 125 ng/100 ml, E2 11.8 +/- 3 pg/ml, and DHEA-S 1.4 +/- 1.4 micrograms/ml, all lower than controls. The A/T and E1/E2 ratios were also higher than controls and showed a good positive linear correlation (r = 0.40; p less than 0.001) between each other. The uremic damage acts at the testis level, impairing the activity of the enzyme 17-beta-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase (17-OHSD), even if a derangement of the peripheral interconversion between steroids cannot be excluded.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Semeiotica Medica, Padova University School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mastrogiacomo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Besi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zucchetta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Serafini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Greca
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gasparotto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lorenzi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dean
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014511:Uremia / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006062:Gonadotropins