ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The kidney plays an important role in excretion and catabolization of hormones in body. The possible role of hyperprolactinemia in the sexual abnormalities of patients with end stage renal disease was reported. So, we evaulated the prolactin levels in patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis and the response to bromocriptine. METHODS: Basal serum levels of prolactin were measured in 11 patients undergoing long term hemodialysis by enzyme immunoassay. Blood samples were drawn just before dialysis and at the end of same dialysis session. We also examined 11 male normal person as controls. We evaluated the sexaul activity and serum prolactin level after administration of bromocriptine to the patients with hyperprolactinemia for 6 weeks. RESULTS: The average age of 11 male patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis was 40.2 years. The patients has been received hemodialysis for 38.5 months at time of the study. Prolactin levels in patients undergoing hemodialysis before hemodialysis were 2045.1 mIU/L, after hemodialysis 2341.2 mIU/L, and normal male persons 212.8 mIU/L. Serum prolactin levels were decreased progressively for 2 week after oral administration of bromocriptine. Thereafter, prolactin were maintained within normal value until from 4th weeks to 8th weeks. Sexual activity in end stage renal disease patients with hyperprolactinemia was markedly improved after 6th weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The serum prolactin levels in patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis were higher than that of the controls. The high serum prolactin level may be related with decreased sexual function. In patients with decreased sexual function, treatment with dopamine agonist can decreased serum prolactin levels and can improve symptoms such as decreased libido and impotence.