DOES ERYTHROPOIETIN CAUSE HORMONAL CHANGES IN HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS

In 10 female and 10 male haemodialysis patients plasma FSH, LH, testos terone, prolactin, and somatotropin (STH) were estimated during erythr opoietin (rHuEpo) treatment for 6 months. All but one patient responde d with an increase in haemoglobin. The patients experienced improved s exual function according to the answers given in a self-administered q uestionnaire. Of the 90% who answered before the study 22% could not p erform sexual activities whether they wanted to or not. During and at the end of the study 80 and 60% respectively answered, and none had th ese problems. In contrast, serum values of the sexual hormones (FSH, L H, testosterone and prolactin) were not significantly changed during r HuEpo therapy, and neither was the basal plasma STH.