INTRODUCTION: Treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) is associated with an improvement in well-being and quality of life in patients submitted to maintenance hemodialysis (HD). OBJECTIVES: The goal of this work was to evaluate the levels of sex hormones, hematocrit, albumin and zinc in HD patients with rHuEpo therapy and compare them with those observed in patients without rHuEpo treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two groups of twelve male HD patients each were selected for a transversal study; one did not receive rHuEpo (group 1) whereas the other one did (group 2). Levels of hematocrit, albumin, zinc, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin, and testosterone were determined. RESULTS: Group 2 patients showed significantly higher medians (p < 0.05) of testosterone (4.65 vs. 3.5ng/mL), hematocrit (30.5 vs. 22%), albumin (3,9 vs. 3,7g/dL) and zinc (62.5 vs. 50.5microg/dL) than group 1 patients. DISCUSSION: In this study rHuEpo treatment resulted in higher hematocrit, testosterone, zinc and albumin. It is suggested that, in patients recipients of rHuEpo, higher levels of zinc and testosterone may be factors that contribute to relieve sexual dysfunction and improve quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: In HD patients, hematocrit, albumin, serum zinc and testosterone levels were higher in rHuEpo recipients when compared with patients not receiving this hormone therapy.
Hemodialysis; Erythropoietin; Hematocrit; Albumin; Testosterone; Zinc
