Somatic findings in children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa

94 patients (mean age 15,4 years) with anorexia nervosa were investigated. We found cardiovascular parameters in correlation with body weight. ECG-changes had no connection with weight and concentration of potassium. Pulse and systolic blood pressure decreased, concentration of urea and SGOT and SGPT increased with weight decreases. Compared with the results of the adults of Fichter (1985), pulse and blood pressure changed more often, whereas the concentration of potassium often rested unchanged. Therapy with neuroleptics calls for ECG-controls. Interesting was the finding that we found less raised levels of cortisol in the group with extremely low weight on admission.