Pituitary-gonadal abnormalities in Egyptian children and adolescents with chronic renal insufficiency

ABSTRACT

Delayed sexual maturation is one of the problems facing survivors with chronic renal insufficiency [CRI]. Follicle stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone [LH], prolactin [PRL], testosterone [TEST] and estradiol [ESTR] were estimated in 34 patients with CRI as compared to 20 healthy subjects. Some patients were given drug therapy [bromocriptin or clomiphene citrate or both of them] and their hormone profiles were reevaluated after the end of the therapy. This was a trial to outline the effects of CRI on the pituitary-gonadal axis and to investigate some modalities of drug therapy in addition to hemodialysis [HD]. The study revealed low FSH level in 23.4% of patients, low LH in 26.47% of patients and hyperprolactinemia in 50% of them. ESTR was found low in 60% of female patients while TEST was low in 89.4% of male patients. The study found that the worst the rental function the lower the FSH level [p <0.05] and the higher the PRL level [p <0.05]. No significant differences were found on comparing patients under regular HD to those on conservative treatment