title: Hormonal profile and serum zinc levels in uraemic men with gonadal dysfunction undergoing haemodialysis.
abstract: Serum gonadal hormones, gonadotrophins and zinc levels were studied in thirteen men aged 29-62 yr with chronic renal failure undergoing haemodialysis. All patients had decreased libido and impotence. Serum testosterone levels in patients (18.5 +/- 1.3 (SEM) nmol/l) were significantly lower (p less than 0.05) than in the control group (24.1 +/- 2.2 (SEM) nmol/l) although salivary testosterone levels were strictly within the normal range. Mean serum 17-beta-oestradiol and luteinizing hormone levels (0.19 +/- 0.03 (SEM) nmol/l, and 57.4 +/- 13.1 (SEM) IU/l, respectively) were significantly higher (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.005, respectively) than in the control group (0.11 +/- 0.02 (SEM) nmol/l and 14.8 +/- 1.9 (SEM) IU/l, respectively). Mean progesterone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels in patients were not significantly different from those of control subjects. Mean prolactin values in patients (1,019 +/- 285 (SEM) mIU/l) were significantly higher (p less than 0.01) than in the control group (211 +/- 24 (SEM) mIU/l). Serum prolactin levels in five patients were extremely high (above 1,200 mIU/l). There was no statistically significant difference in serum zinc levels between patients and controls. As salivary testosterone is normal, it seems that hyperprolactinaemia and raised serum 17-beta-oestradiol levels may be responsible, at least in part, for sexual dysfunction in male patients with chronic renal failure receiving haemodialysis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D007989:Libido; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000032:analysis; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis; D014511:Uremia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D015032:Zinc