Thyrotropin, prolactin, and growth hormone responses to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
Serum thyrotropin (TSH), prolactin (PRL), and growth hormone (GH) levels were measured before and after stimulation with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in 10 patients with bulimia, 7 with features of the restricting subtype of anorexia nervosa, and 6 with bulimic subtype of anorexia nervosa. The mean basal levels of TSH, PRL, and GH did not differ among the three groups. A delayed TSH response was found in 86% of the restricting anorectics, 80% of the bulimic anorectics, and 22% of the bulimics. The PRL response was normal in all patients, with no significant difference among the three groups. Elevated basal GH levels were found in 29% of the restricting anorectics, 33% of the bulimic anorectics, and 33% of the bulimics. An abnormal GH increase after TRH stimulation was observed in 50% of the restricting anorectics, 20% of the bulimic anorectics, and 13% of the bulimics. These results suggest that some patients with bulimia, and some with anorexia nervosa, have a hypothalamic dysfunction. These neuroendocrine abnormalities do not appear to be due solely to low weight or to metabolic changes resulting from binge eating and are not associated with depressive symptoms.
D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001835:Body Weight; D002032:Bulimia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone