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Coronary atherosclerosis in anorexia nervosa
Carl Laird Birmingham1, Scott A Lear, Jennifer Kenyon
1Eating Disorders Program, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. clbirm@interchange.ubc.ca
The International Journal of Eating Disorders
|September 2, 2003
Summary
Chest pain in anorexia nervosa (AN) is common, but atherosclerosis is an unlikely cause. Carotid intima-medial thickness (IMT) did not differ between AN patients and controls, suggesting other origins for chest pain.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Chest pain is a frequent symptom in patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN).
- Approximately 20% of AN patients with chest pain meet criteria for typical or atypical angina.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential atherosclerotic origin of chest pain in patients with anorexia nervosa.
- To compare carotid intima-medial thickness (IMT) between AN patients and a control group.
Main Methods:
- Carotid artery intima-medial thickness (IMT) was measured using ultrasound.
- IMT measurements in patients with AN were compared to those in healthy controls.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in carotid intima-medial thickness (IMT) was observed between the anorexia nervosa group and the control group.
- A strong correlation exists between carotid IMT and coronary atherosclerosis.
Conclusions:
- The absence of IMT differences suggests that atherosclerosis is an unlikely cause of chest pain in AN patients.
- While clinically significant atherosclerosis can exist with normal IMT, the findings point away from an atherosclerotic etiology for chest pain in this population.