Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 71, 705-711, Copyright © 1990 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

A comparative and longitudinal study on endocrine changes related to ovarian function in patients with anorexia nervosa

CJ van Binsbergen, HJ Coelingh Bennink, J Odink, AA Haspels and HP Koppeschaar
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Joseph Ziekenhuis, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

Screening of androgens and estrogens in blood and a GnRH test were performed in 20 female patients with anorexia nervosa and in 10 lean and 10 normal weight healthy control subjects. Both control groups had regular ovulatory menstrual cycles. The investigation was performed in the mid-follicular phase. Several variables showed significant differences between the groups; the levels of PRL, estrone, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, and LH were lowest in the patients with anorexia nervosa. The lean control group showed intermediate values for progesterone, androstenedione, and, to a smaller extent, testosterone. The FSH response to GnRH was significantly higher in the patient group, corresponding to the pattern of late prepubertal girls. Ten patients were seen in a follow-up study. Five had resumption of the menstrual cycle, and the others still had amenorrhea. The two subgroups did not differ in either weight gain or the basal hormonal variables investigated. After weight gain an increased LH response to GnRH was observed in both subgroups. Patients who had resumption of the menstrual cycle showed a higher response of LH to GnRH, both before and after weight gain. The mean increase in LH after GnRH administration was significantly different between the two subgroups. The results suggest that the GnRH test may be useful to assess the stage of the disease and to predict the outcome, especially with regard to restoration of the menstrual cycle.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Dominguez, L. Goodman, S. Sen Gupta, L. Mayer, S. F. Etu, B T. Walsh, J. Wang, R. Pierson, and M. P Warren Treatment of anorexia nervosa is associated with increases in bone mineral density, and recovery is a biphasic process involving both nutrition and return of menses Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, July 1, 2007; 86(1): 92 - 99. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. I. Williams, S. L. Berga, and J. L. Cameron Synergism between psychosocial and metabolic stressors: impact on reproductive function in cynomolgus monkeys Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, July 1, 2007; 293(1): E270 - E276. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. K. Miller, E. A. Lawson, V. Mathur, T. L. Wexler, E. Meenaghan, M. Misra, D. B. Herzog, and A. Klibanski Androgens in Women with Anorexia Nervosa and Normal-Weight Women with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2007; 92(4): 1334 - 1339. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. BRUNI, M. FRANCESCA FILICETTI, and V. PONTELLO Open Issues in Anorexia Nervosa: Prevention and Therapy of Bone Loss Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., December 1, 2006; 1092(1): 91 - 102. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. B. Perkins, J. E. Hall, and K. A. Martin Aetiology, previous menstrual function and patterns of neuro-endocrine disturbance as prognostic indicators in hypothalamic amenorrhoea Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2001; 16(10): 2198 - 2205. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Monteleone, M. Luisi, B. Colurcio, E. Casarosa, P. Monteleone, R. Ioime, A. R. Genazzani, and M. Maj Plasma Levels of Neuroactive Steroids Are Increased in Untreated Women With Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa Psychosom Med, January 1, 2001; 63(1): 62 - 68. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Muroya, T. Okuyama, K. Goishi, Y. Ogiso, S. Fukuda, J. Kameyama, H. Sato, Y. Suzuki, H. Terasaki, H. Gomyo, et al. Sex-Determining Gene(s) on Distal 9p: Clinical and Molecular Studies in Six Cases J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2000; 85(9): 3094 - 3100. [Abstract] [Full Text]