Abstract
Gonadal functions are frequently disturbed in adults with CRF submitted to dialysis. The degree of pubertal maturation was investigated in boys whose CRF was treated either by dialysis (group D, n = 14) or by renal transplantation (group T, n = 12), divided according to age: 1 = 9 to 13 years, 2 = over 13 years. Testosterone (T) levels (nmol/l, x̄ ± sem) in D1: 0.71 ± 0.43 (mean age 11.7) and in T1: 0.24 ± 0.16 (mean age 12.4) were significantly lower than in normal boys. In D2: 5.2 ± 1.8 (mean age 14.6) and T2: 16.5 ± 5.5 (mean age 17.5) they did not differ from normal. When plotted against bone age, T levels were generally above the normal mean. LH levels (IU/1) were high in D1 (7.4 ± 1.1) and D2 (5.2 ± 1.3) without any correlation with T levels, but normal in T1 (1.1 ± 0.3) and T2 (2.9 ± 0.4). Androstenedione levels (nmol/l) were low in all subgroups: D1 0.79 ± 0.26, D2 1.3 ± 0.3, T1 0.18 ± 0.09, T2 1.3 ± 0.2, but did not differ from normal when plotted against bone age. Dehydroepiandrosterone levels (nmol/l) were low relatively to age: D1 0.97 ± 0.31, D2 3.6 ± 1.1, T1 0.62 ± 0.22, T2 5.4 ± 2.7. This deficiency was corrected when plotted against height age. These data give evidence of a delayed testis maturation with abnormal LH secretion in dialysed boys and a deficient adrenal androgenic production possibly related to the low body mass.
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Roger, M., Broyer, M., Schärer, K. et al. Gonadptropin and androgen levels in boys with chronic renal failure (CRF). Evidence of multiple androgenic deficiencies. Pediatr Res 15, 87 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198101000-00096
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198101000-00096