Ventilatory dysfunction in severe anorexia nervosa.
A 25-year-old woman suffering from chronic anorexia nervosa lost more than 50 percent of her body weight and presented with generalized muscle weakness. Pulmonary function tests showed a severe restrictive defect, and she had marked impairment of respiratory muscle strength and endurance, peripheral muscle function, and hypercapnic ventilatory responses, all of which improved following refeeding. The interaction and response to treatment of these effects on respiratory function are discussed.
Ryan
C F
CF
Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Whittaker
J S
JS
Road
J D
JD
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology