title: Hormonal differences between female kidney transplant recipients and healthy women with the same gynecologic conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  End-stage renal disease is associated with severe abnormalities in reproductive function. However, the abnormalities are reversed by successful kidney transplantation. The aim of the present study was to compare hormonal levels between recipients with successful kidney transplantations and healthy women with the same gynecologic conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 31 women of reproductive age with end-stage renal disease who underwent successful kidney transplantation. The ratio of the control group, composed of healthy woman, to the study group was 3:1 matched for age and symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Abnormal bleeding (n = 14) and infertility were the most common gynecologic conditions in kidney transplant recipients. The levels of estrogen (E2) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the study group were higher than in the control group, but the levels of progesterone (P4) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were lower in the study group than in the control group. There were no significant differences in prolactin and thyroid-stimulating hormone between the two groups. The incidence of infertility in patients who receive steroid was higher than those with no steroid use (P = .007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with healthy age- and symptom-matched women, female kidney transplant recipients have increased levels of E2 and FSH and decreased levels of P4 and LH. These differences in hormone profiles may predispose kidney transplant recipients to increased risk of gynecologic pathologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Kangnam-Gu, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: M-J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: C H D
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: J-W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Joh
authors.forename: S-K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011374:Progesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone