A "pubertal" 24-hour luteinizing hormone (LH) secretory pattern following weight loss in the absence of anorexia nervosa.
A 32-year-old women with no evidence of anorexia nervosa lost 20 pounds following a self-imposed diet and developed secondary amenorrhea. On two separate occasions, 24-hour plasma sampling at 20-minute intervals the monitoring of nocturnal sleep revealed a "pubertal" pattern of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion, i.e., sleep-related enhancement of LH. After she regained 15 pounds, the "pubertal" pattern reverted to the typical of adults in which there is no significant difference in LH secretion between average sleep and waking values. One month following the last study, normal menses began. These data demonstrate that weight loss or the metabolic factors associated with nutritional changes, in the absence of anorexia nervosa, may be associated with amenorrhea and reversion to the "pubertal" pattern of LH secretion, which can return to normal following weight gain.
D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*
D007986:Luteinizing Hormone