title: Heart rate variability in adolescents with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea and anorexia nervosa.
abstract: Aim of this study consisted in assessing the 24-h heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of autonomic nervous system (ANS) imbalance, in 21 adolescents with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA, 11 normogonadotropic, N-FHA, and 10 hypogonadotropic, Hy-FHA) compared to 21 patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and 21 controls. As expected, subjects with AN showed a significant dysregulation in multiple HRV parameters, while Hy-FHA patients presented with a dysregulation in a few domains (SDNN, HFr), which was not present in girls with N-FHA, who showed values largely similar to controls. FHA might represent part of the AN biological spectrum, and a link between these two conditions might exist, possibly related to the degree of psychological and/or hormonal dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza, Italy. Electronic address: monica.bomba@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bomba
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corbetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gambera
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Unit, Spedali Civili, Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicosia
authors.affiliation: Department of Childhood and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonini
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology - University of Milano-Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tremolizzo
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nacinovich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007027:Hypothalamic Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Adolescence; Anorexia nervosa; Autonomic nervous system; Eating disorders; Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea; Heart rate variability