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Hypothalamic-Pituitary Function in Anorexia Nervosa
Paul E. Garfinkel, MD;
Gregory M. Brown, MD, PhD;
Harvey C. Stancer, MD, PhD;
Harvey Moldofsky, MD
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1975;32(6):739-744.
Abstract
We studied nine patients with anorexia nervosa: five were "undernourished" and four were "well-nourished." The undernourished patients had significantly higher plasma growth hormone (GH) levels in a fasting state and higher GH rebounds following glucose administration. In four of these patients, GH levels decreased to normal after weight restoration.
Decreased urinary follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in three and plasma luteinizing hormone in six patients were not related to nutritional status; however, positive correlation was found between duration of illness and urinary FSH. Other results included decreased plasma testosterone in the one male, elevated plasma cortisol in five, and decreased 17-ketosteroid excretion in five patients.
The results support elevated GH as secondary to starvation of anorexia nervosa and not an independent hypothalamic-pituitary disturbance. Other endocrine findings indicate hypothalamic-pituitary malfunction is not confined to GH.
Author Affiliations
From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, and Clarke Institute of Psychiatry. Dr. Garfinkel is a research fellow and Dr. Brown is a research associate of the Ontario Mental Health Foundation.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication Dec 18, 1974.
Reprint requests to the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, 250 College St, Toronto, Canada M5T 1R8 (Dr. Garfinkel).
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