Serum levels of total and free testosterone in men undergoing hemodialysis.

ABSTRACT

Serum concentrations of total and free testosterone were measured in 102 hemodialysis male patients and 45 healthy men. In hemodialysis patients, serum levels of total and free testosterone were significantly reduced compared to the controls (p < .001). Neither serum total nor free testosterone correlated with age in the controls. In contrast, both total and free testosterone in serum negatively correlated with age in hemodialysis patients (p < .05-.001). It would appear that testicular dysfunction becomes more severe with increasing age in hemodialysis patients.