Coronary atherosclerosis in anorexia nervosa.
BACKGROUND
Chest pain is a common complaint in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). Of those who experience chest pain, about 20% meet the diagnostic criteria for typical or atypical angina.


METHODS
We compared the intima-medial thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery measured by ultrasound in AN with controls and found no difference.


CONCLUSIONS
Although clinically relevant atherosclerosis can occur in patients with a normal IMT, there is a strong correlation between carotid IMT and coronary atherosclerosis. This suggests that an atherosclerotic origin of chest pain in AN patients is unlikely.
Birmingham
Carl Laird
CL
Eating Disorders Program, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. clbirm@interchange.ubc.ca
Lear
Scott A
SA
Kenyon
Jennifer
J
Chan
Sammy Yat Man
SY
Mancini
G B John
GB
Frohlich
Jiri
J
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans