Influence of lisuride, a dopaminergic agonist, on the sexual function of male patients with chronic renal failure

The effects of Lisuride, a dopaminergic agonist, on the levels of plasma prolactin (PRL), testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and on the variations of libido and coital frequency of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) have been investigated in a group of 20 male patients (ten normoprolactinemic and ten hyperprolactinemic). Ten patients were included in a hemodialysis program and another ten received conservation therapy (all had creatinine clearance rates below 15 mL/min). The response of PRL to TRH administration and that of LH and FSH to LH-RH administration have also been studied. Low levels of plasma testosterone found initially in all the patients, increased in both normoprolactinemic (P less than 0.05) and hyperprolactinemic patients (P less than 0.01) during Lisuride administration. PRL decreased (P less than 0.01) in both groups during therapy. The increase of plasma testosterone was greater in hyperprolactinemic patients (86% v 15% in normoprolactinemic) and was accompanied by a clear improvement in the studied parameters of sexual behaviors. The response of PRL to TRH was modified in hyperprolactinemic patients while that of LH and FSH to LH-RH was not modified, although Lisuride induced an increase of the basal value of LH (P less than 0.01) in the hyperprolactinemic group. The drug was fairly well tolerated, did not induce hypotension, and the overall incidence of side effects decreased along the study. These results stress the need for further studies with this agent in patients with chronic renal failure and sexual dysfunction.