Improved erectile function and sex hormone profiles in male Chinese recipients of kidney transplantation

Abstract

Successful kidney transplantation can significantly ameliorate ED in Chinese patients, especially in individuals with a shorter time on dialysis. Changes in sex hormone levels may contribute to this improvement in ED.

Vitamin D Status in Renal Transplant recipients is not Associated with Erectile Dysfunction

“…Out of 40 study patients, only 10 (25%) had no ED (ED 0 group), 20 patients had mild (ED 1) and seven patients mild to moderate ED (ED 2), while three patients had severe ED (ED 4 group). Th e high presence of ED among our renal transplant recipients is in line with earlier reports of 42% to 78% prevalence in this population 12,[24][25][26][27] . Th e levels of 25(OH)D and PTH, as well as other study parameters on both measurements did not diff er among ED groups.…”

“…A simplifi ed 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) was used as a diagnostic tool for ED evaluation 13 and to further divide study subjects into diff erent ED categories. According to the IIEF-5 score, the patients were categorized as no ED (ED 0; score [22][23][24][25], ED 1 (score 17-21), ED 2 (score 12-16), ED 3 (score 8-11) and ED 4 group (score ≤7). Th e groups were then compared according to serum levels of 25(OH)D, complete blood count, hemoglobin, PTH, fasting blood glucose, creatinine, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), cholesterol and triglycerides per body mass index (BMI), duration of renal replacement therapy (RRT) before TX, and kidney graft duration until analysis.…”

Male Sexual Dysfunction and Chronic Kidney Disease

“…The restoration of kidney function, at least to a degree, improves prolactin clearance, and thus, LH and testosterone levels normalize (56, 57). Hyperparathyroidism and anemia also improve after successful transplantation.…”

“…ED is still widely prevalent in kidney transplant recipients, but not to the same degree as in CKD stage 5-D. If the prevalence of ED in dialysis patients is taken to be around 80% (26, 57), then epidemiological results suggest a lower level of approximately 30–50% following transplantation (57–59). Even allowing for the younger age and lower comorbidity of the transplanted population relative to dialyzed patients, this indicates that a sizeable proportion of men see improved erectile function following engraftment.…”

“…A Chinese transplant center used the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scoring system in 24 patients with CKD stage 5-D before and after a kidney transplant. In all, 87.5% experienced some degree of ED before surgery and 46% afterward (57). The majority of 15 Iranian recipients of living donor organs reported better erectile function after kidney transplantation (60).…”