Characterization of leukocytes, lymphocytes and lymphocyte subsets in eating disorders
Do Carmo, I.; Palma-Carlos, M.L.; Melo, A.; Jorge, Z.; Macedo, A.; Nunes, S.; Galvão-Teles, A.; Palma-Carlos, A.G.
Allergie et Immunologie 29(9): 261-268
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0397-9148 PMID: 9580038 Document Number: 474828
Mental anorexia patients have severe denutrition and high cortisol levels. Nervous bulimia presents a particular psychic profile. The aim of this study was to evaluate lymphocyte population in eating disorders in order to understand the effect of these disturbances on immune system. We have found that patients with mental anorexia or bulimia present a significant decrease of leucocytes, lymphocytes, CD2 and CD4. Patients with post-anorexia bulimia have no significant variants. There is no difference between mental anorexia and nervous bulimia. There is a tendential variation between mental anorexia and controls in relation to CD45Ra. Considering the similar patterns of immune disturbance in anorexia and bulimia it looks like a dominance of neuroimmune network over malnutrition. Naive cells are particularly sensitive to malnutrition.