title: Acute liver damage in anorexia nervosa.
abstract: We report a case of a 26-year-old White woman with a history of anorexia nervosa who developed severe liver damage and multiorgan dysfunction. At admission to our medical unit, her body mass index (BMI) was 10.8. Biochemical evaluation showed a marked increase in serum levels of aspartate aminotransferases (AST = 9,980 IU/L), alanine aminotransferase (ALT = 3,930 IU/L), amylase (1,002 IU/L), lipase (1,437 IU/L), creatine phosphokinase (CPK; 783 IU/L), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH = 6,830 IU/L). Glomerular filtration rate was reduced (35 ml/min), reflecting dehydration and prerenal azotemia. No other cause of acute liver damage except malnutrition was evidenced. Hydration and nutritional support were the unique medical treatment. A rapid recovery occurred in few days and all laboratory data were normal at discharge after a 37-day hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Pascoli
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lion
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Milazzo
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caregaro
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D003681:Dehydration / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000378:metabolism; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D020127:Recovery of Function
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases