Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) therapy on plasma FT3, FT4, TSH, FSH, LH, free testosterone and prolactin levels in hemodialysis patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of r-HuEPO treatment on free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), free testosterone and prolactin levels in uremic hemodialysis patients. Twenty-four uremic hemodialysis patients were given r-HuEPO with a dose 60 U/kg as intravenous bolus injection at the end of each dialysis session. Once the hematocrit value of the patient had reached a range of 30-35%, the dose was adjusted so as to keep the hematocrit levels constant. Twenty uremic dialysis patients were taken as control group. The above-mentioned hormone levels of patients and control group were determined before and 4 months after r-HuEPO treatment. After the treatment, serum prolactin levels significantly decreased in both sexes (36.8 +/- 7.8 vs 22.9 +/- 6.3 ng/ml and 78.3 +/- 13.3 vs 37.4 +/- 10.4 ng/ml male and female, respectively). FT3 and FT4 significantly increased (1.17 vs 1.67 pg/ml, p < 0.05, and 0.64 vs 0.084 ng/dl, p < 0.05, respectively). TSH levels increased but those changes were not significant. There was no change in the level of any hormone in the control group. Also, the sexual functions of eight male patients treated with r-HuEPO improved and menstruation started again in four female patients. We concluded that r-HuEPO treatment especially decreases prolactin level in uremic hemodialysis patients. It is conceivable that correction of elevated prolactin levels could improve sexual disorders in these patients.