ABNORMAL RESPONSE OF LUTEINIZING HORMONE, FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE AND TESTOSTERONE TO LUTEINIZING HORMONE-RELEASING HORMONE IN CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE

Abstract

ABSTRACT Serum levels of LH, FSH, testosterone and oestradiol were measured by radioimmunoassay in 10 healthy subjects and 7 undialysed and 15 dialysed patients with chronic renal failure. The basal level of serum LH was significantly higher in patients with chronic renal failure than in healthy subjects. The basal level of serum FSH in male subjects was significantly higher in dialysed patients with chronic renal failure than in healthy subjects. Regarding testosterone secretion in male subjects and oestradiol secretion in female subjects, it was shown that the basal level of serum testosterone was significantly lower in patients with chronic renal failure than in healthy subjects, and that serum oestradiol levels were within the normal range in most of the patients with chronic renal failure. Serum levels of LH, FSH and testosterone were determined after iv injection of 100 μg of LH-RH in three groups of subjects. Responses of serum LH and FSH to LH-RH were exaggerated and prolonged in patients with chronic renal failure compared with healthy subjects. The peaks of serum LH and FSH were observed 30 min after LH-RH injection in healthy subjects while those in chronic renal failure appeared at 60 to 120 min. The levels of serum testosterone after LH-RH injection did not change within 120 min. These findings may indicate that the pituitary gonadotrophin response to LH-RH is abnormal and that the turnover of LH, FSH and LH-RH is decreased in patients with chronic renal failure.