Pulsatile gonadotropin secretion in pubertal children with chronic renal failure.

We have examined physiological nocturnal secretion of gonadotropins in 6 boys and 2 girls with end-stage renal disease, who had either delayed or disturbed puberty. The 5 patients treated by dialysis had reduced gonadotropin pulsatility for their stage of pubertal maturation, whereas the 3 patients with successful kidney grafts demonstrated a higher nocturnal rise and increased amplitude of gonadotropin pulsatility. It is suggested that the improved gonadotropin pulsatility of transplanted patients is due to their restored renal function.