The significance of weight loss in the evaluation of pituitary response to LH-RH in women with secondary amenorrhea.
Sixteen women with amenorrhea occurring in the setting of severe self-imposed weight loss and 18 women with secondary amenorrhea due to other causes were given LH-RH (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone). Women with weight loss were found to be unresponsive to LH-RH when severely underweight. FSH responsiveness returned in a linear fashion as weight gain occurred and was not related to estrogen levels. LH responsiveness also returned with weight gain although the relationship was not linear but exponential and a sudden increase in responsiveness occurred at 15% below ideal weight. No relationship to estrogen levels could be found. Women who experienced amenorrhea in a setting other than weight loss did not demonstrate responsiveness to LH-RH which could be correlated with body mass, even when underweight. Women who experienced amenorrhea with weight loss had a consistently lower LH response to LH-RH than the second group and their LH response was always lower than the FSH response. On the other hand, a variety of patterns was found in women with amenorrhea due to other causes.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000178:diet therapy; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*
D004967:Estrogens; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone