Haemodialysis and hypothalamo-pituitary-testicular axis

Disturbances in testicular function develop in uraemic patients, but the effect of haemodialysis on them has not been determined definitively. Because of this, 22 patients with chronic renal failure who were receiving regular dialysis treatment underwent studies of the hypothalamo-pituitary-testicular axis before, during and after a dialysis. On all these occasions, serum testosterone concentrations were lower than the values found in 26 normal men. In contrast, serum concentrations of FSH and LH were higher than normal. 13 of these patients showed a normal response of the hypothalamo-pituitary system to the clomiphene stimulation test and a diminished response of Leydig's cells to the human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation test. It is concluded that haemodialysis does not affect the impaired gonadal function of male uraemic patients.