Free Androgen Index Is Superior to Total Testosterone for Short-Term Assessment of the Gonadal Axis after Renal Transplantation

Vol. 64, No. 5, 2005

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Original Paper

Free Androgen Index Is Superior to Total Testosterone for Short-Term Assessment of the Gonadal Axis after Renal Transplantation
Walter Reinhardt^{a, b}, Daniel Patschan^a, Frank Pietruck^a, Thomas Philipp^a, Onno E. Janssen^b, Klaus Mann^b, Friedrich Jockenhövel^c, Oliver Witzke^a

Departments of
^aNephrology and Hypertension, and
^bEndocrinology, School of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, and
^cDepartment of Medicine, Evangelisches Krankenhaus, Herne, Germany

Address of Corresponding Author

Horm Res 2005;64:248-252 (DOI: 10.1159/000089292)

Key Words

Hypogonadism
Pituitary-gonadal axis
Renal transplantation
Testosterone

Abstract

Objective: Recent studies have assessed gonadal function in association with different immunosuppressive drugs in transplanted patients mainly relying on the measurement of total testosterone. It is the aim of this study to assess the short-term changes of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis following renal transplantation using the free androgen index (FAI). Patients and Methods: The sequential changes in total testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), gonadotropin and prolactin concentrations were measured in 22 male patients before and after 1-3 days, and 1, 2 and 3 weeks following renal transplantation. Results: Total testosterone and SHBG concentrations dropped significantly after transplantation (total testosterone: baseline: 15.2 ± 1.6 nmol/l vs. 1 week: 7.9 ± 0.8 nmol/l vs. 2 weeks: 9.8 ± 0.9 nmol/l, SHBG: baseline: 29.9 ± 3.2 nmol/l vs. 1 week: 19.9 ± 2.1 nmol/l, 2 weeks: 18.9 ± 2.4 nmol/l, p < 0.01). FAI decreased significantly after day 1-3 returning to values near baseline thereafter (baseline: 60 ± 9% vs. day 1-3: 38 ± 6%, 2 weeks: 61 ± 7%; p < 0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between FAI and renal function. Conclusion: Measurement of the free androgen index is superior to total testosterone for assessment of the pituitary-gonadal axis in the first weeks after renal transplantation.

Author Contacts

Privatdozent Dr. med. Oliver Witzke
Nierentransplantationsambulanz, Medizinische Klinik
Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55
DE-45122 Essen (Germany)
Tel. +49 201 723 3955, Fax +49 201 723 3393, E-Mail oliver_witzke@web.de

Article Information

Received: April 22, 2005
Accepted: September 8, 2005
Published online: October 27, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 25

Medline Abstract (ID 16254434)

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