title: Free androgen index is superior to total testosterone for short-term assessment of the gonadal axis after renal transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have assessed gonadal function in association with different immunosuppressive drugs in transplanted patients mainly relying on the measurement of total testosterone. It is the aim of this study to assess the short-term changes of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis following renal transplantation using the free androgen index (FAI).
  
  
  METHODS
  The sequential changes in total testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), gonadotropin and prolactin concentrations were measured in 22 male patients before and after 1-3 days, and 1, 2 and 3 weeks following renal transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total testosterone and SHBG concentrations dropped significantly after transplantation (total testosterone: baseline: 15.2 +/- 1.6 nmol/l vs. 1 week: 7.9 +/- 0.8 nmol/l vs. 2 weeks: 9.8 +/- 0.9 nmol/l, SHBG: baseline: 29.9 +/- 3.2 nmol/l vs. 1 week: 19.9 +/- 2.1 nmol/l, 2 weeks: 18.9 +/- 2.4 nmol/l, p < 0.01). FAI decreased significantly after day 1-3 returning to values near baseline thereafter (baseline: 60 +/- 9% vs. day 1-3: 38 +/- 6%, 2 weeks: 61 +/- 7%; p < 0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between FAI and renal function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurement of the free androgen index is superior to total testosterone for assessment of the pituitary-gonadal axis in the first weeks after renal transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Patschan
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pietruck
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Philipp
authors.forename: Onno E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jockenhövel
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Witzke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone