OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in penile erectile function and levels of serum sex hormones in renal transplant recipients and uremic men undergoing hemodialysis.

METHODSWe analyzed the follow-up data of 35 male renal transplant recipients and 30 uremic men undergoing hemodialysis. We assessed the penile erectile function of the patients using IIEF-5 questionnaire and nocturnal electrobioimpedance volumetric assessment (NEVA), and determined the levels of serum sex hormones.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of erectile dysfunction (ED) was 51.4% in the renal transplant recipients, and 73.3% in the uremic men undergoing hemodialysis (P < 0.05). The cases of moderate to severe ED accounted for 25.7% in the renal transplantation group, and 46.6% in the hemodialysis group. The renal transplant recipients showed a higher nocturnal erectile frequency, better erectile hardness and longer erectile duration than those undergoing hemodialysis (P < 0.05). The level of serum testosterone (T) was markedly higher while the levels of estradiol (E2) and prolactin (PRL) significantly lower in the former than in the latter (T: [4.32 +/- 1.37] vs [2.53 +/- 1.12] ng/ml, P < 0.05; E2: [19.57 +/- 2.29] vs [43.38 +/- 5.58] pg/m, P < 0.05; PRL: [8.59 +/- 1.19] vs [17.22 +/- 3.31] mIu/ ml, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONRenal transplant recipients with renal function have a better overall penile erectile function than uremic men undergoing hemodialysis.