Growth hormone regulation and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function in anorexia nervosa
Neri, V.; Ambrosi, B.; Beck-Peccoz, P.; Travaglini, P.; Faglia, G.
Folia Endocrinologica 25(2): 143-152
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0015-5535 PMID: 4353815 Document Number: 45493
The mechanisms regulating growth hormone (GH) and ACTH secretion were compared in a group of normal subjects and 11 women 13 to 41 years old with anorexia nervosa which had lasted for from 1 to 25 years. Basal GH values were higher in the patients than in the controls, 4.2 and 1.3 ng/ml, respectively. The increase in GH after infusion of 30 g arginine was normal. A single injection by vein of 0.1 U insulin/kg bodyweight did not increase plasma GH in 2 of the 11 patients; the mean value was lower than the normal range. Infusion by vein of 0.06 pU lysine-vasopressin/kg bodyweight increased GH in only 1 patient compared with half the normal group. Glucose tolerance tested by mouth showed great individual variation and was abnormal in the 6 subjects tested. When the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function was studied by evaluating urinary and plasma corticoids there was again great individual variation.