The hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis in uremic patients receiving hemodialysis in childhood

Eight uremic patients (aged 16-21) reseiving hemodialysis in childhood, were studied on the hypothelamo-pituitary gonadal axis.1. The gonadal dysfunction was implicated by the findings of low serum testosterone, high luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, hyporesponsiveness in human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) test.2. Delayed and prolonged response in LH-RH test suggested the decrease in metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of LH.3. The findings of two cases whose testosterone levels were low and LH levels were high, suggested the hypothalamic dysfunction.4. Pituitary function was normal.5. The mean value of serum LH in the female was higher that that in the male patients. The underlying mechanism is unknown.6. All patients had the clinical evidence of puberty in spite of the hormonal dysfunction in the hypothalamo'pituitary-gonadal axis.