title: Measurements of serum pituitary-gonadal hormones and investigation of sexual and reproductive functions in kidney transplant recipients.
abstract: Objective. To investigate changes in serum pituitary-gonadal hormones and restoration of sexual and reproductive functions after successful kidney transplantation. Patients and Methods. Serum pituitary-gonadal hormones before and after kidney transplantation were measured in 78 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and in 30 healthy adults. Pre- and postoperative semen specimens of 46 male recipients and 15 male controls were collected and compared. Additional 100 married kidney transplant recipients without children were followed up for 3 years to observe their sexual function and fertility. Results. Serum PRL, LH, and T or E(2) levels gradually restored to the normal ranges in all kidney transplant recipients, and sperm density, motility, viability, and morphology significantly improved in the male recipients 4 months after successful kidney transplantation (P < .05). Thirty-three male recipients (55.93%) reobtained normal erectile function, and 49 kidney transplant recipients (61.25%) had children within the 3-year follow-up period. Conclusion. Successful kidney transplantation could effectively improve pituitary-gonadal hormone disturbance and sexual and reproductive dysfunctions of ESRD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Guang-Chun
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jun-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Long-Gen
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zhi-Lian
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: You-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Qiang-Lin
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Duan