Hypothalamic-pituitary function in anorexia nervosa.
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.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001786:Blood Glucose; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000503:physiopathology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000503:physiopathology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D011749:Pyrogens; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000503:physiopathology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D011749:Pyrogens; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013974:Thyroxine