Salivary gland enlargement and elevated serum amylase in bulimia nervosa.
BACKGROUND
Clinical reports have described salivary gland enlargement in bulimia nervosa, particularly in patients with elevated serum amylase concentration. The goal of the current study was to provide a controlled comparison of salivary gland size in patients with bulimia nervosa and healthy volunteers.


METHODS
Subjects included 17 women with bulimia nervosa and 21 healthy female control subjects. Dimensions of the parotid and submandibular salivary glands were estimated by ultrasonography. Blood samples for amylase measurement were obtained after overnight fast.


RESULTS
Parotid gland size was enlarged 36% in patients with bulimia nervosa in comparison to control subjects (p < .01). For the patient group, salivary gland size was significantly correlated with frequency of bulimic symptoms and with serum amylase concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide new quantitative data demonstrating increased salivary gland size in bulimia nervosa. Further studies are needed to evaluate factors responsible for salivary gland enlargement and hyperamylasemia in this disorder.
Metzger
E D
ED
Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Levine
J M
JM
McArdle
C R
CR
Wolfe
B E
BE
Jimerson
D C
DC
D000328:Adult; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002032:Bulimia / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D015415:Biomarkers; D000681:Amylases