Assessment of hormone loss through hemofiltration

The concentrations of testosterone, cortisone, gastrin, insulin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), somatomedin B, parathyroid hormone (PTH), human growth hormone (HGH) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) have been determined in the plasma and the ultrafiltrate of five uremic patients undergoing intermittent hemofiltration treatment. There was a considerable loss of gastrin, insulin, GIP, somatomedin B and PTH by hemofiltration treatment. The plasma concentrations, however, did not decrease except for immunoreactive-PTH (IR-PTH) which returned from elevated to normal levels. Cortisone, HGH and TSH concentrations in the ultrafiltrate were below the measureable range. A significant elimination of 11-hydroxylated androstans by hemofiltration may have a positive effect on the disturbed steroid metabolism. Results indicate that hemofiltration does not cause a hormone deficiency syndrome. On the contrary, the loss of degradation products of hormones with disturbing biological activity may be a favorable effect of the hemofiltration treatment.