Childhood-onset anorexia nervosa: towards identifying a biological substrate.
OBJECTIVE
The etiology of anorexia nervosa is not fully understood, but is probably multifactorial, including a biological substrate. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the possible underlying biological substrate.


METHODS
Fifteen children and adolescents aged 8-16 years underwent regional cerebral blood blow radioisotope scans. All fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for anorexia nervosa. Three of the girls had a follow-up scan when they had regained their lost weight.


RESULTS
Thirteen of the 15 patients had unilateral temporal lobe hypoperfusion, 8 on the left side and 5 on the right. The abnormality persisted in the 3 girls who had a follow-up scan after weight restoration.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of reduced regional cerebral blood flow in childhood-onset anorexia nervosa, and suggests an underlying primary functional abnormality.
Gordon
I
I
Department of Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, United Kingdom.
Lask
B
B
Bryant-Waugh
R
R
Christie
D
D
Timimi
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D015430:Weight Gain