ZINC AND TESTICULAR HORMONE PROFILES BEFORE AND AFTER RENAL-TRANSPLANTATION

Data on zinc status in Indian patients with chronic renal failure is l acking. There are conflicting data in the literature on plasma and ery throcyte zinc levels in renal failure patients and the effect of haemo dialysis on zinc status. Of the multiple factors believed to be involv ed in the pathogenesis of uraemic impotence, attention has been focuse d on the possible role of zinc depletion and hyperprolactinaemia. We r eport a longitudinal study on 27 patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Plasma and erythrocyte zinc, serum prolactin and serum total testosterone were studied at diagnosis, 4 weeks after haemodialysis, a nd 3 and 6 months after successful renal transplantation. Zinc status and hyperprolactinaemia are both normalized within 6 months after rena l transplantation. While there was a significant positive correlation between plasma zinc and serum testosterone, there was no correlation b etween serum prolactin and testosterone. This observation suggests tha t plasma zinc may be a more important determinant of normal gonadal fu nction than prolactin in renal transplant recipients.