[The adenohypophyseal gonadotropins in patients with anorexia nervosa]

In 13 patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), secondary amenorrhoea lasting eight to 25 months and the loss of body weight more than 25% were found. Estradiol concentrations (E2) were significantly lower in patients with anorexia nervosa than in nine patients in the control group (21.4 +/- 9.2 vs 96.5 +/- 25.8 pg/ml, p less than 0.01). LH concentrations were also significantly lower in AN than in the control group (6.8 +/- 3.2 vs 12.3 +/- 4.5 IU/L, p less than 0.01). A similar relationship was found in the FSH concentration (5.2 +/- 2.0 vs 9.4 +/- 3.5 Iu/L, p less than 0.05). A 100 ug LH-RH i.m. administration produced a significant rise of the LH concentration and a slightly smaller one of FSH in comparison with the basal concentrations, with a maximum rise after 60 minutes (LH after 60 minutes 76.4 +/- 16.5 IU/L, and FSH 24.0 less than 5.6 IU/L).