Time course of serum prolactin and sex hormones following successful renal transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Chronic renal failure is commonly associated with disturbances in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal function.


METHODS
The gonadotrophins, prolactin and estradiol or testosterone levels were measured immediately before renal transplantation, at discharge from the transplantation unit (19 +/- 8 days after Tx) and 6 months after transplantation in 21 patients, 7 females and 14 males, age range 21-60 years.


RESULTS
The mean prolactin level was high during uremia and decreased rapidly after transplantation, from 441 to 167 mU/l in males and from 1,057 to 521 mU/l in females. Hypergonadotrophism was seen in most uremic patients, with the mean LH and FSH levels of 14.2 and 6.0 U/l in males and 14.7 and 4.0 U/l in females, respectively. A temporary change to hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism took place 2-3 weeks after transplantation and was followed by normalization of the hypothalamic-gonadal function. The levels of circulating sex steroids were suppressed when the patients were discharged from the transplantation unit but returned to the normal range at 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that renal transplantation corrects the hyperprolactinemia induced by uremia and is followed by rapid onset of restoration of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
Saha
M-T
MT
University of Tampere, Medical School, Tampere, Finland. marja-terttu.saha@utu.fi
Saha
H H T
HH
Niskanen
L K
LK
Salmela
K T
KT
Pasternack
A I
AI
D000328:Adult; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone