Hypothalamic-pituitary function in anorexia nervosa.

Abstract

Hypothalamic-pituitary function was studied in 4 patients with anorexia nervosa of different degree of severity before and after refeeding. Gonadotrophin secretion was low in all subjects and improved in two after a prolonged period of feeding. In one subject there was a failure of pituitary gonadotrophin secretion after the administration of hypothalamic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone but the response was restored to normal after treatment. Thyroid function was reduced in one patient only but returned to normal after intravenous therapy for 6 days. Growth hormone and cortisol levels were elevated in all patients, and in one severe case the growth hormone values were extremely high. There was also a disturbance of the hypothalamic control of growth hormone and pituitary-adrenal function, which returned to normal after refeeding. One patient with severe hypothermia was resistant to the administration of a pyrogen, but developed a normal febrile response after treatment.

• Authors: R J Frankel, J S Jenkins
• Journal: Acta endocrinologica (Acta Endocrinol (Copenh)) Vol. 78 Issue 2 Pg. 209-21 (Feb 1975) ISSN: 0001-5598 [Print] Denmark
• PMID: 1090100 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Pyrogens
• Triiodothyronine
• Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
• Testosterone
• Luteinizing Hormone
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone
• Thyrotropin
• Growth Hormone
• Thyroxine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Anorexia Nervosa (blood, diet therapy, physiopathology)
• Blood Glucose
• Female
• Fever
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (blood)
• Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
• Growth Hormone (blood)
• Humans
• Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System (physiopathology)
• Hypothermia (physiopathology)
• Luteinizing Hormone (blood)
• Male
• Ovary (physiopathology)
• Pituitary-Adrenal System (physiopathology)
• Pyrogens
• Testosterone (blood)
• Thyroid Gland (physiopathology)
• Thyrotropin (blood)
• Thyroxine (blood)
• Triiodothyronine (blood)