Pituitary-testicular function in cyclosporin-treated renal transplant patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in LH, FSH, PRL and testosterone levels in 20 men on haemodialysis and 26 men following renal transplantation. Nineteen of the renal transplant recipients were receiving cyclosporin, azathioprine, and prednisone, while the seven remaining individuals received azathioprine and prednisone. A subgroup of eight patients were also studied longitudinally while undergoing maintenance haemodialysis and after transplantation. The results show that successful renal transplantation resulted in a normalization of hormone levels in either the cross-sectional or longitudinal groups, the degree of which was unaffected by treatment modality. Cyclosporin given in therapeutic doses does not alter the pituitary-testicular function in renal transplant recipients.