title: Role of testosterone in the pathogenesis, progression, prognosis and comorbidity of men with chronic kidney disease.
abstract: Testosterone deficiency and hypogonadism are common conditions in men with chronic kidney disease (CKD). A disturbed hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis due to CKD is thought to contribute to androgen deficiency. Data from experimental studies support the hypothesis that exogenous administration of testosterone may induce the activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), the production of endothelin and the regulation of anti- or/and proinflammatory cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension and kidney damage. On the other hand, low testosterone levels in male patients with CKD are paradoxically associated with a higher risk of morbidity and mortality, possibly explained by anemia, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. In this article, we present an overview of clinical and experimental studies of the impact of testosterone on the progression and prognosis of male patients with CKD; even today, this remains a controversial issue.
authors.affiliation: Hemodialysis Unit Kyanos Stavros Patras, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Periklis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dousdampanis
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Trigka
authors.forename: Costas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fourtounas
authors.forename: Joanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bargman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Anemia; Cardiovascular disease; Chronic kidney disease; Hypertension; Osteoporosis; Testosterone