[Sex hormones profile in women on dialysis program in treatment with erythropoietin]

Abstract

Objective: The end stage renal disease has accompaniments in body systems, including hormonal changes. The present study was designed to evaluate the pattern of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and estradiol (E2) in 47 women with end stage renal disease (ESRD), on regular dialysis and receiving recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO).

Methods: One patient was on intermittent peritoneal dialysis, 4 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and 42 on maintenance haemodialysis. They were divided into: Group I consisted of 10 women with regular menses, aged lesser than 48 years; Group II consisted of 15 women with amenorrhea, aged lesser than 48 years and; Group III, consisted of 22 women with amenorrhea, aged 48 years or more. Levels of FSH, LH, PRL and E2 were obtained by ELISA.

Results: All groups showed FSH, LH and E2 levels in the normal range for normal women without renal failure, and there was no statistical significance in the levels of these hormones between women with regular menses or women with amenorrhea aged lesser than 48 years. The serum concentrations of PRL were above the normal range in all groups. The patients aged 48 or more showed hormonal profile consistent with post-menopausal (i.e. high FSH, high LH and low estradiol).

Conclusions: We conclude that ovarian function is intact on ESRD and we have to search for other causes for amenorrhea in women that do not have an abnormal hormonal sex profile.