Pituitary and Ovarian Dysfunctions in Women on Haemodialysis

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Abstract
Female uremic patients (28) treated by chronic hemodialysis were studied. Of these patients, 6 had regular cycles, 6 irregular cycles, 7 were amenorrheic and 9 post-menopausal. Plasma gonadotropins (FSH and LH [lutropin]) were determined in all patients. Plasma concentrations of estradiol and progesterone were determined only when of possible interest. LHRH stimulation test was performed in 5 amenorrheic patients. In 19 pre-menopausal women baseline plasma FSH values were always normal, but LH concentrations were above normal in 5. In all 9 post-menopausal women both FSH and LH were markedly higher than in the pre-menopausal patients, either healthy or uremic. Persistent estrogen activity was found in the 6 regularly menstruating women and in the 5 women with oligomenorrhea. Luteal phase plasma progesterone was in the low normal range in 3 patients and was markedly depressed in the others. A prolonged rise in LH and to a lesser extent in FSH was observed in 4 of the 5 patients studied after 100 .mu.g of LHRH were administered i.v. The defect underlying gonadal dysfunction in uremic women treated by chronic hemodialysis apparently is mainly of suprahypophyseal origin.